Surveys show that workers are happiest when they are productive and are contributing to the success of the group in which they work. To boost morale, efficiency and longevity of workers, one must:
- understand the importance of one’s production,
- know exactly what one is supposed to produce and have a clearly defined final product,
- be properly trained to get that product, and
- be specific. Generalized statements leave too much room for interpretations and argument.
Whether you have a staff of 2 or 30, each position in the practice needs to have a clearly defined final product. Both the manager and the employee need to know exactly what the person on the post is expected to produce. For instance, a receptionist’s product is “communications handled swiftly, accurately and in a friendly manner.” A receptionist who consistently obtains this final product will keep the flow lines and the communication lines of the practice functioning and will be a valuable group member. How many new patients have been lost because a receptionist has failed to answer a phone call swiftly, answer questions correctly and/or set an appointment?
Determining the final product for each position is a starting point. A statistic needs to be developed, so the final product can be monitored accurately. For example, one of an office manager’s final products is “staff members who are fully trained for their positions.” Using a statistic such as “percentage of employees fully trained for their jobs” would show the OM’s performance.
How do you hold employees accountable? The answer is:
- name a final product for each position,
- figure out a way to quantify that product as a statistic,
- monitor the statistic,
- evaluate statistical trends, and
apply the correct formula to remedy any downward statistic or improve an upward statistic.