Do The Things You Love!

– By Dr Nav Ropra. 

Many years ago, when I first started working in practice as an associate, I thought it was unwise to give half of my earnings to the principal for his expenses.

It was only when I became a principal and opened my first dental practice that I realized how significant those expenses were. I started to do as much as possible myself in order to cut down practice costs. I realized shortly afterwards that I was living a life of inefficiency and devaluing myself and the business.

Nowadays I make a list of what the highest priority action steps in my business are and delegate absolutely everything else to someone who would love to do those things.

I found that this freed me up to do the things I love to do, reduced stress in the practice and made the business run more efficiently and effectively.

In my experience, the healing potential is increased when a practice is organised this way and patients will see and feel this.

Also, hiring a reliable, focused and efficient practice manager is well worth the investment.

It’s a wise idea to have your expectations clearly planned out, so that at interview, they are inspired to take on the role without any hidden agendas by either party.

I would rather employ someone who is inspired to learn and work than someone who is well qualified and will get bored easily.

‘Nowadays I make a list of what the highest priority action steps in my business are and delegate absolutely everything else to someone who would love to do those things.’

It’s a good idea to fire the staff up before you consider firing them.  Inspire them and link what they are doing to their highest values.  Demonstrate how it is serving them and what’s in it for them.

Try and ensure a healthy balance of support and challenge with staff. Maintain the ability to both praise or reprimand them accordingly without getting over friendly or distant as this may interfere with the working relationship.

Temper any unrealistic expectations that you may have on yourself or others. This will help you objectively deal with situations rather than emotionally reacting with them and going off on tangents.  Having the team dedicated to doing the things they love, frees you up to do the things you love.  When you give that which you want to receive in this world, your practice magnifies its care.