Then, how are your employees?
Do they feel valued? Your words matter. Do you encourage them often by a "great job today" or "I am so thankful for our team" or "you are all so amazing"?
Your encouraging appreciative words are most often more important than a monetary reward. In this case, the words and the action are appreciated.
Have you provided training for your employees so they can be the very best employee possible?
A doctor complained about how his Office Manager was horrible at collecting payment at time of service. And it was highly visible in the outstanding accounts receivable. She was not comfortable in asking patients for money.
Something as simple as phone skills training can give them extra added confidence in speaking with patients about their payments and past due bills.
When is the last time you provided practice software training? This is one of my consistent questions during a fraud examination. Sadly, the most common answer is "when we started the software."
Are you sabotaging their employment by not providing the skill training they need to be successful in their position? Ongoing software training can provide a more efficient work flow. After reviewing a
practice's less than effective systems and procedures and the end result in QuickBooks, I asked who trained them in QuickBooks. "No one - we just figured it out on our own."
Allowing your employees to figure things out, regardless of how intelligent they are, is probably not going to gain you the best results. You may not actually know what you are missing or what is wrong.
Do they have the ongoing resources they need to do their job the best they are capable of? Empowerment is the process of becoming stronger and more confident.
And what of the employee that has been provided all the opportunities to be a star employee but it is evident being an employee in your practice is not their best fit. You may like them but it is just not working out.
You do no one any favors by keeping them because you do not want to deal with a new hire or do not want to pay unemployment. Keeping an employee longer after you know they are not working out could cost you more - time, money, leadership respect, etc.
The average state's unemployment benefit shares unemployment wages with the employee's past 18 months (5-6 quarters) employers. Each state has its own means of calculating but I encourage you to look into how it is calculated for your state. Then, I encourage you to calculate the cost of the employee not working out in their position, for an indefinite period of time. Which cost is greater?
Make sure you have exhausted all means of ensuring the employee's success before you throw in the towel. If the employee is well liked by your staff, it could cause greater problems, if it is not obvious they are not working out.
Your Bench Team
Are your employees and you the only members of your team? No. Not at all. There are those on the bench waiting to help when and where needed.
American Airlines is a member of my team. They ensure I make it to clients or speaking engagements, and reroute me when necessary. My bank is a member of my team, making sure that what they provide, enables me to be more successful.
My CPA is a member of my team and should be a big member of your team. They make sure my tax filings are on time, offer me tax advice regarding my business and stand beside me should it ever be needed in an audit with the IRS. They are only a phone call away.
Everyone I depend on to help me be successful is a member of my team, even the electric company. If the electric company is charging too much and their service is not responsive to what I need, I can change that service provider.
I am on your team, waiting on the bench for when you need me. If you don't know if I can help, call me -
888-994-3167. Let's talk.
It's the seventh inning. There are a limited number of innings in this game and you do not want to lose. You worked hard to be where you are at this point. Do not lose ground, strengthen your team. No dugout dramatics or in-team fighting.
Let's finish strong.
