Practice Plan Regional Support Manager, Emma Flunt, suggests some easy ways to show your practice team how much you appreciate them.
Let’s be honest, running a dental practice is full-on. From the moment you walk through the door to the second you leave, there are days when it’s all go. When you’re in the midst of all that, it’s easy to forget just how much your team does to keep everything ticking over.
However, a little appreciation can go a long way. When your team feels valued, they’re more motivated, more engaged, and more likely to stick around. And the good news? Showing your appreciation doesn’t have to be time-consuming or expensive.
Here are six easy, thoughtful ways to let your team know they’re genuinely appreciated.
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Shine a spotlight on your team
If you’re proud of your practice (and why wouldn’t you be?) then it’s only fair to give some credit to the people who make it what it is. Show off your team by featuring them on your website (with their permission, of course). Add a photo, a short bio, maybe even a fun fact or two.
Doing this is a win-win: patients get to know the friendly faces behind the masks, and your team gets a little public recognition for the brilliant work they do.
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Treat them to lunch
They say there’s no such thing as a free lunch, and to be honest, giving your team lunch would involve some expenditure on your part. However, for the goodwill this gesture would garner, it’d be worth the investment!
All you need to do is pick a day, order in something tasty, and let the team know it’s on you. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy. This simple gesture to say, “Thanks for everything,” can be worth a lot more than the cost of the food.
Even if you don’t get the whole team taking you up on it, the thought alone will be appreciated.
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Leave a message on the whiteboard
Most practices have a whiteboard or a noticeboard of some sort in the staff room. They’re usually covered in rota, posters and reminders. You could commandeer a corner of it to leave a quick thank-you message or a bit of encouragement sometimes.
It’s something that will only take seconds to do, but it can really make someone’s day. It gives them some public recognition and shows you’re paying attention to the little things.
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Plan a team social event
Whether it’s a quiz night at the pub, going for a curry, or something a bit different like bowling or a day at the races, getting the team together outside of work can do wonders for morale.
Practice teams are usually made up of people of all different ages and circumstances so, they’ll probably have different interests too. Rather than just presenting them with a fait accompli, ask your team what they might enjoy doing together. That way you’re likely to find something that the majority of people will want to come along to.
Again, it doesn’t have to be extravagant. The aim is to do something fun that gives everyone a chance to relax, bond, and feel part of something special.
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Write a quick note
Handwritten notes or cards might feel old-school, but they can be incredibly personal and powerful. A quick “well done” or “thank you” popped into someone’s tray or locker can mean a lot.
You could also do this to recognise things they’ve achieved outside of work such as completing a course, running a 10K, or smashing a personal goal. It’s a simple way to show you see them as more than just a colleague.
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Give the staff room a makeover
Your staff room is a place your team can go to have a breather, catch up with each other or simply grab their lunch. It’s somewhere they can have a break away from the demands of surgery or the front desk, so it should feel comfortable. I can always tell how much a team is valued by the practice owners from the state of the break room! If it’s shabby and full of boxes of supplies (or worse still, there isn’t one!) then I know there’s some work to be done on culture!
If you haven’t decorated it recently, why not give it some TLC? Better still, get the team involved in the revamp. Ask for their ideas, let them help choose colours or décor. It’s a small thing, but it shows you care about their comfort and wellbeing.
These are just a few, easily implemented suggestions that can help communicate to your staff how much you value their hard work. You don’t need grand gestures to make your team feel appreciated. It’s the small, consistent acts of kindness and recognition that build a positive culture, which is what keeps people wanting to remain part of a practice.
