If you’re running a dental group or DSO, you know the importance of assessing your team’s performance. But what’s the best way?
The easy answer is often production. How many patients does each dentist or hygienist see? What is the dollar value of their procedures? Who is bringing home the bacon and who is lagging behind?
The problem is that by associating production with performance, you’re essentially incentivizing your team to do two things. First, get each patient in and out as quickly as possible, and second, push patients towards higher-dollar procedures that they may not need.
That’s a recipe for burnout, resentment, and short-term profits combined with long-term failure.
Instead, try measuring your team by more comprehensive, sustainable metrics. For each doctor or hygienist, consider: how do fellow team members feel about them? How about their patients? Do they take the time to listen and build relationships with the people they care for? Do they do quality work and represent the practice well?
For each metric, too, consider how you can give each team member the tools to improve. This can be anything from a kind word or a little encouragement to something more substantial like coaching or mentoring.
You may sacrifice a little temporary profit. But you’ll gain lasting rewards.