The Most Powerful Staff Motivator

by Mark Studin DC, FASBE(C), DAAPM, DAAMLP 

One might think it is money and you are right...and wrong! Finances are important and critical in keeping staff, but motivating them is another story. Once you have found the balance of fair exchange in paying your staff a fair salary, money is taken for granted and does not enter into the equation. In fact, business psychologists have speculated that a bonus is as powerful a motivator as a raise and it only lasts a short amount of time and nets the employee far less money. Once that is out of the way, what's left? The answer is simple; ego and appreciation.

We, as doctors, spend most of our time in the adjustment/treatment room areas with patients and we realize something that very few ever get to experience, the miracles of chiropractic. It works so well that almost everyone feels better in a very short amount of time and with that comes a shower of accolades and thanks from our patients. In my 30 years of practice, the one thing that I never got "jaded" about, that kept me humble (not an easy task if you know me), is the results that delivering a chiropractic adjustment rendered. I was a great adjustor; not the best and not the worst, but the best ME I could be. The truth is, even the worst adjustor correcting subluxation yields far superior results than any medical counterpart in any discipline. That is a non-negotiable subject and is a hard FACT.

As a result, we are perpetually deluged with  never ending showers of thank yous from our patients and that is the #1 thing that makes me look forward to Monday morning and reminds me how blessed I am to be a chiropractor. Although the money is critical, it isn't what drives me. If I hated going to the office every day and all I did was get yelled at, I would be seeking a career in either McDonald's or Walmart. At least I wouldn't have the stress that is also associated with every day practice.

Your staff is no different. How many times a day do you point out something they did wrong? How many times a day do you have a level of frustration with your staff and it shows on your face? How many times do patients vent on the staff and you allow it?

When my daughter was in 1st grade, her principal had a great exercise. He would walk the halls looking for a student doing something right. It could have been holding a door open for a friend or saying please or thank you. He would stop the student and bring him/her to the office and call home immediately to tell the parent that their child was just caught doing something wonderful and was getting an award as a result. This created an entire elementary school doing such wonderful things for each other because they too wanted the recognition.

We should be doing the same. Perhaps not calling a staff member's mom or giving them a certificate, but constantly telling them how great a job they are doing and rewarding them with lunch, a cup of coffee, or even a token gift. It doesn't cost a lot to say thank you and make your staff feel as appreciated as you and the rewards are tremendous. It will make for a very happy office and fun place for you, your staff and your patients. The happier the office, the busier the office. Those 2 concepts are mutually inclusive.