Dealing with common staffing issues

Building a successful practice is a team effort. Just as a strong team can help propel your business forward, a weak team can hold you back. It’s imperative to identify staffing issues before they manifest into serious complications.

Here are a few surefire signs to keep an eye out for.

Training

An employee who seems unsure and is hesitant to make decisions could be suffering from a lack of training. It’s impractical for new hires to learn solely on the job. Similarly, introducing new technology without proper training can be a pitfall. Be sure to allocate time for both employee and technology training.

Guidance

Your team needs strong guidance and clear direction to succeed. Without direction, staff may not be sure about what is or isn’t their responsibility. Job descriptions can lay out a roadmap for success. Define daily tasks, responsibilities, expectations and the methodology you will use to measure staff performance.

Don’t be afraid to get employees involved in the process by talking with each staff member about their career goals. Do your best to align their responsibilities with the needs of the practice as well as their professional development.

Feedback

Many people want to do a good job, advance and be considered an invaluable member of the team. But, if several employees are consistently falling short of your expectations, you might not be providing them with sufficient feedback. Feedback should be given regularly, not delayed until an annual review. Commit to giving daily feedback to staff members and you may see productivity improve quickly.

Address any friction

Conflict resolution is part of managing a business. Get involved if you notice friction between employees. As tempting as it is to want to let them work it out on their own, staff that don’t get along may not be focused on providing the best service and care to your patients.

Always listen to both staff members when confronting a conflict. Focus on resolving the issue and getting everyone back on track.

Stay involved

No matter how busy you get, touching base once in a while with everyone on your team helps to keep you aware of any issues. In a larger practice, check in periodically with your practice manager to find out if there are any problems you should be aware of.