By Matt Kuhrt
Solid practice teams don't just happen. They're the result of careful cultivation, tending and, at times, pruning, Cheryl Toth writes at PhysiciansPractice.
Likening the care and maintenance of a practice team to nurturing a crop of peaches on a tree in her yard, she provides guidance for practice managers as they manage the talent on their teams. "You must tend to it regularly, give it nutrients, and thin it when necessary," wrote Toth, a consultant and trainer with KarenZupko & Associates Inc.
Practical takeaways for medical practice managers include the following:
- Take an active approach to managing your star players. Toth stresses the active part of this equation, suggesting hands-on teaching and mentoring to help your best employees take on more challenging tasks. Some of the traits that make workers great can also make them toxic to your team, so don't neglect to develop the "soft" skills that make them good co-workers and high-functioning team leaders, she adds.
- Help make your good performers better. It's important not to focus on superstars to the exclusion of the rest of your team, Toth says. A well-functioning team requires that all your staff be energized and on board, and sometimes a bit of additional mentoring or personal attention can make a good employee into a great one. It also pays to remember that patients notice when a practice team works well together--and when it doesn't, she says.
- Deal with individual performance problems early, before they hurt the rest of the team. Keep a close eye on individuals, especially when they start to struggle or when their actions begin to affect others on the team. Toth suggests there's often a "real story" behind poor-performing employees, and finding out about it early can nip larger problems in the bud. Given the recent increase in cases of burnout, it's a good idea to know the warning signs and develop strategies to help your staff cope.
To learn more:
- read the Physicians Practice post