Running a small health practice is, in some ways, much like running any other kind of business – particularly when it comes to effectively managing your team. Perhaps the only real difference is, with a small practice, that the stakes are so much higher. It’s not simply a case of profits, but of people’s well-being. So making sure you’re managing everyone properly is crucial not just for the practice and staff, but for the patients as well. As such, these are our top tips for effective management of teams in small practices.
On the Same Page
It’s imperative that everyone knows precisely what their role is within the practice. Communication – whether verbal or virtual – is an absolute must, to ensure everyone knows what’s expected of them while at work. Making sure everyone’s on the same page isn’t just good for the team, but also for ensuring patient safety.
Appointments and Schedules
Knowing what needs to be done, and when, is, again, vital to effective management of a team. Health professionals are an incredibly busy bunch – ensuring your team has easy access to appointment lists, or reminders for upcoming meetings means more time dealing with what matters – the patients – rather than faffing around with paperwork.
Start a Dialogue
Those working closely with patients will almost always have a far better idea of how to make the practice work for them – so listen to ideas. Even if they can’t always be implemented, it’s important to make staff feel like you’re hearing their thoughts. Some ideas may be so brilliant, it leads to an even better running of the practice.
Keep it Simple
As we’ve said before, your team of heath professionals are going to be incredibly busy – this is a vocation, not a hobby, after all – so if there’s any way of simplifying anything, do it. Whether this is creating a colour-coded ‘at-a-glance’-style patient overview, or choosing software that does the hard work for them, it again means more time spent with patients.
The Vision
Reading the above, and you may notice that we’ve covered the who, the when, the how, and the what – but perhaps the most important of all is the why. Managing a team means you’re all aiming for the same target, the same result. Lay out your vision clearly to your fellow health professionals, what you’d all like to achieve, and where you see the practice going. Such actions strengthen the team bond, making management that much easier.
Managing, and maintaining, a cohesive team requires a real strength of character and a vision of leadership. This is particularly true for those in the healthcare field, where patients’ lives and livelihoods can be put at risk if a team’s not working as it should. What are your tips for effective team management? How do you ensure your small practice runs perfectly?
