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April 4, 2008

by Cindy Ishimoto, CDPMA

Respect provides people with a sense of power and self esteem. Virtually everything we do or say to a person conveys either respect or disrespect. Here are some ways to show respect to the people with whom you work:

• Provide them with the necessary direction
• Give them adequate resources
• Provide them with the information they need on a timely basis
• Respect their time
• Don't usurp their authority
• Look for ways to make their job easier
• Tune into their needs
• Listen to them
• Provide them with feedback
• Stand up for them
• Respect their privacy
• Give them the right to express their feelings
• Acknowledge their hardships
• Respect their personal obligations

When people are treated this way, everyone wins. The team feels that the doctor cares about them. They have greater self-respect and confidence, which dramatically increases their ability to achieve success.

Teamwork is the behind-the-scenes work of the practice; the technical aspect of copying records, duplicating radiographs, follow-up care, telephone calls, etc. This will improve with staff development and training, job descriptions, task lists and written standard operating procedural guidelines. If the team develops these together, success will increase.

Team harmony is the relationship aspect of the team--the cheerful attitudes, amiable communication, etc. Team harmony is what the patient sees and experiences, and it has the greatest impact on treatment acceptance. Team harmony improves when the work tasks are shared in a fair and equitable manner and the respect system is alive and well. The optimal team approach is a blend of teamwork and team harmony.

By preserving the staff's self-respect and dignity, the doctor wins loyalty and commitment instead of passive cooperation. Loyalty and commitment enable the doctor to maximize productivity and efficiency. The doctor is then free to concentrate on activities that will lead to success, instead of dealing on morale problems that occur when people don't feel respected.

Bio
Cindy Ishimoto, CDPMA, brings energy and powerful information to dentists and teams every day. With 30 years of experience, she is a well-known speaker and management consultant. Cindy has been a featured speaker at international, national and state conventions. Her lectures are focused on helping practices establish systems that balance serving patients, profitability, and enjoyment of profession. As a member of the Jameson Management consulting team, she works in offices with clients all across the U.S. and U.K. For more information on her programs, contact her at Cindy Ishimoto or (808) 244-7344.

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