One effective way to motivate a dental team is to show them how they make a difference. When your team understands how their actions positively affect patient care, overall teamwork, and the growth of the practice, they are even more motivated to put in the extra effort.
American musician and activist Clay Aiken once said, “It doesn’t really matter to me how I make a difference; I just want to make sure that I do.” Your dental team is no different. And even though you and your team interact with patients daily, most teams are disconnected from how their efforts positively impact others.
Consider a dental team member who follows up on unscheduled treatment and helps confused patients understand their next steps. A few of the patients may also have some apprehension about being in a dental chair, but your team member takes a few extra minutes to soothe their nerves. In the end, this team member schedules several patients from the unscheduled list.
On one hand the team member is doing her job—and doing it quite well. But the bigger picture suggests she is making a difference by guiding patients to schedule needed treatment, showing people that she cares, and helping the practice grow in the process. This is why you need to help your team see the big picture and how their actions create many positive outcomes. Then people move beyond just doing a job and they can connect with something much bigger.
TV news anchor Tom Brokaw once said, “It’s easy to make a buck. It’s a lot tougher to make a difference.” Fortunately the practice of dentistry gives you and your team many opportunities to make a positive impact on others. And by making your team aware of how they each make a difference, they will feel more motivated to go the extra mile.