marketing for dentists – Capacity Academy

Dental Marketing Expert Chris Griffin Publishes New Article Offering Tips For Employee Management

webmaster — Wed, 30 Oct 2013 19:44:08 +0000

Chris Griffin, Founder of The Capacity Academy, a dental practice consulting company, provides advice for dentists and practice managers.

Ripley, MS – Oct. 30, 2013– Chris Griffin, Founder of The Capacity Academy, a dental practice consulting company, recently published an article on his website (http://www.TheCapacityAcademy.com) discussing employee management. The article, titled “Dental Practice Management: How to Get a ‘Trouble Employee’ Back on Track” offers practical guidance for his readers.

Chris Griffin writes, “Dealing with underperforming employees is challenging for many dentists and practice managers, and so today we are going to examine five key principles to keep in mind during this process.”

The Capacity Academy specializes in dental practice consulting. They help clients increase production and profitability through the use of efficient techniques and systems.

The entire article can be found here.

To learn more about The Capacity Academy, please visit http://www.TheCapacityAcademy.com

About Chris Griffin:

One of the few dentists brave enough to tackle lecturing and coaching dental assistants, Chris Griffin, DDS, formed The Capacity Academy in 2008 to help dentists increase both their hourly production and overall clinical efficiency. He soon found that no dentist can truly flourish without the help of their trusted auxiliaries. Now, their training is an essential cog in the wheel of his style of dental coaching, along with teaching the absolute essentials of efficiency without sacrificing clinical excellence.

Dr. Griffin is a columnist for The Profitable Dentist magazine and self-publishes a monthly newsletter called the Capacity Review. He is the Lead Author of the new best-selling book, More Than A Mouthful, a human interest book to the general public about dentists. His previously published book, Time Genius: Design, Achieve and Implement Any Goal Into Your Already Hectic, Crazy Life (or Business), has sold over 770 copies, and his self-published book The Ultimate Secret of Success: Not Just For Dentists has had over 530 downloads as an ebook. That book has 6 top notch guest authors, such as Dr. Howard Farran, Dr. Sam Puri, Dr. Bob Westerman, Dr. Woody Oakes and others. His newest venture is his ezine, The Winning Dentist, which currently boasts over 2000 subscribers.

Dental Practice Management: How to Get a “Trouble Employee” Back on Track

webmaster — Mon, 28 Oct 2013 18:36:17 +0000

Your team members play a critical role in allowing you to create a highly profitable dental practice. It is your team members that are responsible for executing the systems that keep your practice functioning smoothly, efficiently, and profitably.

But what happens when an employee isn’t performing as well as he or she should be? How can you get him or her “back on track?” Dealing with underperforming employees is challenging for many dentists and practice managers, and so today we are going to examine five key principles to keep in mind during this process.

1) Face the facts. For most dentists, the first instinct is to ignore the problem and hope that it goes away on its own. Confrontation is stressful and can sometimes seem like a waste of time. But trust me when I tell you that the problem will never go away on its own. It will only get worse. The best thing you can do is address it immediately before it becomes a habit.

2) Clearly explain what is wrong and what needs to change. When you sit down to talk with your employee, be as clear as you can be. Explain what the employee is doing wrong and what needs to change. Remind him or her of your expectations. Make sure that when the conversation ends, the employee knows exactly what needs to happen.

3) Provide the employee with the necessary support to improve. Do your best to put employees in position to succeed. Give your employees the necessary support, training, and resources they need to get the job done right. Set them up for success!

4) Monitor the situation and provide regular feedback. Once you’ve had a conversation with your underperforming employee, pay very close attention to the situation. Provide feedback as much as you can, whether that’s positive reinforcement or constructive criticism to get the employee back on track. If your employees feel that you aren’t going to follow up on your instructions and your expectations, they’re not going to change.

5) Don’t hesitate to cut ties if the situation doesn’t improve. Sometimes, despite your best efforts, you just won’t be able to get the employee to turn the corner and improve his or her performance. In these cases, don’t hesitate to let the employee go. If he or she is showing no commitment and no desire to improve performance today, it’s not going to change tomorrow. Keeping that employee around is a waste of time and resources that you could be spending on the training and development of a replacement. And keeping an underperforming employee around will oftentimes have a bad impact on the morale and the effectiveness of the rest of your team.

Managing underperforming employees is part of running a dental practice. It happens to all of us. When it does, keep these tips in mind and proactively address the problem before it gets worse. Contact me today if you’d like to learn more!

Dental Marketing Expert Chris Griffin Publishes New Blog Discussing Dental Practice Management

webmaster — Fri, 25 Oct 2013 16:53:09 +0000

Chris Griffin, Founder of The Capacity Academy, a dental practice consulting company, urges his readers to take full advantage of the last months of 2013.

Ripley, MS – Oct. 25, 2013 – Chris Griffin, Founder of The Capacity Academy, a dental practice consulting company, recently published a blog on his website (http://www.TheCapacityAcademy.com) discussing practice management. The blog, titled “Dental Practice Management: Make the Most of the Last Months of 2013!” asks readers to answer a series of self-evaluative questions.

Chris Griffin writes, “Today, I thought I’d give you the opportunity to evaluate your progress so far in 2013, in order to help you sharpen your focus for the rest of the year.”

The Capacity Academy specializes in dental practice consulting. They help clients increase production and profitability through the use of efficient techniques and systems.

The entire blog can be found here.

To learn more about The Capacity Academy, please visit http://www.TheCapacityAcademy.com

About Chris Griffin:

Dental Practice Management: Make the Most of the Last Months of 2013!

webmaster — Wed, 23 Oct 2013 15:37:01 +0000

We are into the fourth quarter of 2013, and before we know it, the Holiday season will be upon us and then it’s just a few more weeks until the end of the year.

If you’re not careful, it is easy to get sucked into the busy-ness that accompanies this time of year. It’s important to make a conscious effort to make the most of the remaining days of 2013. Today, I thought I’d give you the opportunity to evaluate your progress so far in 2013, in order to help you sharpen your focus for the rest of the year.

Below are several key areas of focus, along with questions you can ask yourself to determine which areas need extra efforts.

1) Marketing and practice development. Is your practice growing? If so, great! How can you capitalize on your growth and ensure that your new patients enjoy an exceptional experience and continue to spread the word about you? If not, have you identified an effective marketing message? Have you found effective channels (like social media or local advertising) for getting your message out?

2) Financial performance. Is your practice profitable, and continuing to trend in the right direction? Obviously retaining current patients and bringing in new ones is key to profitability, but are there additional steps you can take to control expenses and improve your bottom line?

3) Team development and effectiveness. How effective is your team? Can you count on them to execute their responsibilities consistently? Do they provide exceptional service? Keep in mind that you can and should help your team to continue to grow by continuing to train and mentor them.

4) Personal effectiveness and enjoyment. Finally, how has this year been for you personally? Are you spending your time profitably, or do you find yourself consumed with mundane details? Are you able to spend plenty of time away from the office, with family and friends? If not, why do you think this is the case, and what can you do about it? (Hint: it usually starts with training and empowering your team to handle the details so that you don’t have to!)

Questions or comments? Please contact us today to learn more!

Dental Marketing Expert Chris Griffin Publishes New Article Discussing Dental Practice Management

webmaster — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 22:42:28 +0000

Chris Griffin, Founder of The Capacity Academy, a dental practice consulting company, urges dentists to evaluate their progress thus far in 2013.

Ripley, MS – March 28, 2013 – Chris Griffin, Founder of The Capacity Academy, a dental practice consulting company, recently published an article on his website (http://www.TheCapacityAcademy.com) encouraging dentists to evaluate their progress towards their 2013 goals. The article, titled “Dental Practice Management: Are You On Track for Your 2013 Goals?” offers three key questions to ask.

Chris Griffin writes, “As 2012 wound down, I encouraged my readers to set goals for the New Year. Well, believe it or not, we’re already nearly 25% through 2013!”

The Capacity Academy specializes in dental practice consulting. They help clients increase production and profitability through the use of efficient techniques and systems.

The entire article can be found at Practice management are you on track for your 2013 goals

To learn more about The Capacity Academy, please visit TheCapacityAcademy.com

About Chris Griffin:

Dental Practice Management: Are You On Track for Your 2013 Goals?

webmaster — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 22:41:24 +0000

As 2012 wound down, I encouraged my readers to set goals for the New Year. Well, believe it or not, we’re already nearly 25% through 2013! So today we’re going to take some time to examine the progress we’ve made so far this year.

If possible, now would be a great time to quickly review the goals and objectives you have for yourself and for your practice this year. Then, take a look at the questions below as we evaluate your progress.

1) How are you doing on the specific goals you set for yourself? Have you made significant progress? Are you on track to reach the goal by the end of the year? Are there any unforeseen challenges or obstacles that have made this process more difficult? If so, what can you do to overcome them?

2) Have you been able to grow your practice so far this year? At the end of the day, just about everything you do as a dentist comes down to growing your practice. Has your practice grown – or has it been a struggle to acquire new patients?

3) Are you using your time effectively so far in 2013? We spend a great deal of time in this space discussing the importance of systemization. Systemizing your practice basically means that “lower level” functions (such as ordering supplies or managing every single aspect of your staff’s workday) come off your plate and are handled by your team. This frees you up to spend more time with patients and more time strategizing and planning for the future. How have you done in this area so far this year? Do you spend most of your day performing essential functions –or is much of your time consumed with less important tasks?

If the answer to most of these questions isn’t very good, don’t worry. The good news is that you still have plenty of time to turn things around and make 2013 a great year. What’s important, however, is that you identify the problems or challenges that are keeping you from meeting your goals. And once you’ve identified them, create a plan to mitigate or overcome them.

Over the years, I have found that understanding the purpose behind your work is a key factor in your ultimate success or failure. In other words, if you want to succeed, you need to have a clear vision in mind that you’re working towards. In our context, the goals and objectives that you set for the year are a big part of your purpose. The reason you’re getting up early each day and coming in to work is because you’re working towards something significant. Think back to the first week of the New Year. If you’re like most people, you were excited, upbeat, and optimistic. This is partially due to the fact that most of us begin the New Year with our resolutions in mind. We’re motivated and we work hard because we want to accomplish big things in the New Year. (That’s why gyms and health clubs always fill up in January).

But after a few weeks, the enthusiasm dies down. Don’t let this happen to you—take a few moments right now to review your goals and sharpen your focus as you continue building your practice throughout the year. If you’d like to learn more, or if you’d like some help getting back on track, please don’t hesitate to contact us today!

Dental Marketing Expert Chris Griffin Publishes New Blog Urging Dentists To Invest In Their Employees

webmaster — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 22:58:44 +0000

Chris Griffin, Founder of The Capacity Academy, a dental practice consulting company, notes that training and developing employees is vital to building a profitable practice.

Ripley, MS – March 21, 2013 – Chris Griffin, Founder of The Capacity Academy, a dental practice consulting company, recently published a blog on his website (http://www.TheCapacityAcademy.com) discussing employee management. The blog, titled “Dental Practice Management: Invest in the Future by Developing Your Team” warns that a “short term” mindset will prevent a dental practice from reaching its full potential.

Chris Griffin writes, “So here’s my challenge to you – get rid of the ‘it’s easier to do it myself’ mentality. Take the time to train and develop your staff so that they can take trivial tasks off your plate.”

The Capacity Academy specializes in dental practice consulting. They help clients increase production and profitability through the use of efficient techniques and systems.

The entire blog can be found at http://ddspad.com/blog/dental-practice-management-invest-in-the-future-by-developing-your-team.php

To learn more about The Capacity Academy, please visit http://www.TheCapacityAcademy.com

About Chris Griffin:

Dental Practice Management: Invest in the Future by Developing Your Team

webmaster — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 15:57:37 +0000

I have written many times in this space that one key ingredient of a profitable, stable dental practice is developing a strong, effective team. When you combine a well-trained team with systems that have been tested and refined, the results are almost always positive. The net result is more profit for the practice and more time for you, the dentist, to spend doing what you truly enjoy. That may mean spending time with patients, it may mean spending time dreaming up the next big marketing campaign, or it may mean more time on vacation!

But you won’t get there without a strong team. A well-trained team ensures that your practice continues to run smoothly… without demanding the attention of the dentist or the practice manager every 30 seconds.

Now, all of this sounds good in practice. In fact, I’ve yet to encounter a dentist or a manager who disagrees with me that a well-trained, competent team is very important. But… when it comes to actually creating and refining this team, it’s a different story.

Why?

Because training a team and developing your employees takes time. It requires an investment. And let’s be honest, in many cases it really is easier to “do it yourself” than it is to train your staff. But here’s the thing—if you keep “doing it yourself”, nothing is ever going to change. If you suck it up, bite the bullet, and take the time to train your staff… within a few weeks you will have one less thing to worry about. Continue this process for several months and you’ll find that you’ve got much more free time in your day—time that you can spend with patients, or growing your practice, or home with your family.

So here’s my challenge to you – get rid of the “it’s easier to do it myself” mentality. Take the time to train and develop your staff so that they can take trivial tasks off your plate. Yes, it requires an investment of time on your part. But I can promise you it’s an investment that will pay off many times over.

Dental Marketing Expert Chris Griffin Publishes New Article Discussing The Importance Of Accountability

webmaster — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 23:07:12 +0000

Chris Griffin, Founder of The Capacity Academy, a dental practice consulting company, urges dentists and practice managers to create a culture of accountability.

Ripley, MS – March 8, 2013 – Chris Griffin, Founder of The Capacity Academy, a dental practice consulting company, recently published an article on his website (http://www.TheCapacityAcademy.com) discussing the importance of accountability. The article, titled “Dental Practice Management: Accountability Leads to Results,” provides practical tips for his readers.

Chris Griffin writes, “It is accountability that produces results—because without it, most (but not all) employees will do the bare minimum.”

The Capacity Academy specializes in dental practice consulting. They help clients increase production and profitability through the use of efficient techniques and systems.

The entire article can be found at http://ddspad.com/articles/dental-practice-management-accountability-leads-to-results.php

To learn more about The Capacity Academy, please visit http://www.TheCapacityAcademy.com

About Chris Griffin:

Dental Practice Management: Accountability Leads to Results

webmaster — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 23:04:37 +0000

If you regularly read my blog entries and articles, you know how important systems are for the success of your dental practice. As we’ve discussed, systems are what allow your practice to run smoothly—and these systems are what allow you as the dentist to spend your time most effectively. Systems ensure that the day-to-day tasks such as scheduling, billing, and serving patients happen properly.

Today, we’re going to address an important component to creating effective systems: accountability. You see, it doesn’t matter how effective the systems you design are if your staff members don’t execute properly. Management consultants often point to fast food restaurant McDonald’s as the ultimate example of the power of systemization. And for good reason—the franchise has achieved remarkable consistency. You could walk into any McDonald’s in America and order a meal that looks and tastes exactly like the food at your hometown location.

But… what happens if the cook doesn’t stick to the manual and cooks the fries for too long? Or uses the wrong toppings on a burger?

All of a sudden, the incredible system that has been built doesn’t matter. All is lost, simply because one team member failed to execute. This scenario doesn’t happen often at McDonald’s, because they emphasize quality control and accountability. Mistakes are quickly identified and corrected.

Now… can you say the same about your practice? Do you have rigorous quality control parameters in place? If your employees aren’t executing properly, will their mistakes be identified? And once they are identified, will corrective action be taken to ensure that the problem is resolved?

Most dentists and practice managers, if they are being honest, will admit that their employees aren’t held to high enough standards. It is accountability that produces results—because without it, most (but not all) employees will do the bare minimum. They’ll look for opportunities to cut corners. They won’t execute your systems the way you’ve designed them, and the result will be an inconsistent experience for your patients.

What can you do to create a culture of accountability? Below are several ideas:

Lead by example. If you don’t meet your own standards, don’t expect your team to. If they see you cutting corners and taking shortcuts, they are absolutely going to do the same. I guarantee it!

Don’t tolerate tardiness. If a staff member is supposed to be at work at 9:00 AM, hold him or to it. 9:01 isn’t acceptable. This may sound unnecessarily strict, but the goal is to create a culture of accountability, and you can’t “pick and choose” when you enforce the rules and when you don’t.

Perform thorough reviews frequently. Most dentists DO have clear expectations for their team. They just don’t hold them to it. Take the time regularly to review a team member’s work. Review it in depth and point out any areas that need work. If you expect every ‘I’ to be dotted and every ‘t’ to be crossed, hold your employees to it!

Without accountability, you won’t get the results you want. And no matter how well-designed your systems may be, if your employees don’t execute them properly, your patient experience is going to be inconsistent at best. Hold your team accountable!