How Do You Build Loyalty with the Staff (and Do You Really Need To)?
I recently attended a class on leadership and the instructor presented me with a pretty powerful idea about how to build loyalty:
“People will do anything for those that encourage their dreams, justify their failures, allay their fears, confirm their suspicions, and throw rocks at their enemies.”
Or, to put another way, people will do anything for those they are loyal to.
So I want to know, what are you doing in your Periodontal practice to build loyalty with your staff? And perhaps more importantly, do you feel like you really need their loyalty?
Let’s start with the latter and work our way backward.
Loyalty Should Be a Priority
Why do you need employee loyalty in the first place? Isn’t it enough that you gave your team members the job they have and keep them employed? The quick and easy answer is that loyalty is the key to long-term success.
Loyal employees mean less turnover, higher productivity, and a more stable work environment. Longevity ensures you’re able to serve your patients with no gaps in care or shakeups in the workplace.
But loyalty is not something that happens automatically. Employees will shape their sentiments regarding you and your practice, regardless of what you do. At least by prioritizing earning loyalty, you’re able to help shape these perceptions and give them a reason to stick around (other than a paycheck).
Trust Fosters Loyalty
Loyalty is first and foremost created through trust. No one is going to be loyal to an employer that goes back on their word, doesn’t invest in their employees, cuts their hours, or otherwise gives them a reason to believe their job isn’t stable.
Even if you’re paying more than the Periodontist down the street, if the employee feels unstable in their job, they’re less likely to stick around or worse, have your best interest in mind when they are working there day after day.
As the office leader, it’s your job to instill confidence in your team. Be genuine in your interactions. Invest in training and education. Show respect to each employee and give recognition where it’s due.
If you want loyal employees, you first need to ask yourself what you’re doing to earn their loyalty. Job security is a start, but loyalty isn’t created by a single action. Rather, the cumulative actions you take will make all the difference in how employees see, trust, and respect you.
And when you can earn their loyalty, success is more easily shared and multiplied.
Loyalty Starts with Good Leadership
Doctors who provide a clear path set clear expectations and stay consistent gain respect not only quickly, but also long term. Reassuring the staffs' value you have in them once you have set these standards, will keep them committed to you and your practice success for years to come.
For more practice insights, head back to the PANDA blog.
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