As the nights get longer and the days shorter, Area Manager, Gary Nelson, suggests a way of bringing some warmth into people’s lives.
The world we live in is a difficult place at present. Stating the obvious there, sorry!
I don’t think I need to elaborate on that statement, as the never-ending cycle of negative news tells us this often enough. We cannot control much about the greater world around us, but we can control our reactions.
We’re about to enter a tricky phase for many people – the winter months. By ‘people’ I mean, you, me, your teams, your patients, your community.
Everyone will have a different reaction to the world around us and to the winter period, but it’s fair to say that it’s not uncommon for people’s moods to dip, bump, and bobble in the next few months and some people find this period a tricky one.
As a business owner, a practice manager, an associate dentist and simply a human being, we can all do with a little help from those around us from time to time.
Just because
With this in mind, why not implement a ‘Just Because’ culture in your business?
It could include any of the following:
- Giving handwritten thank you notes to co-workers.
- Writing a practice whiteboard message of gratitude or encouragement on a Monday morning.
- Simply complimenting someone on the work they’ve done or the way they’ve handled something.
- Sending handwritten cards to a patient, to wish them well after an illness, or a tough period.
- Initiating a let’s-go-for-a-coffee-and-a-catch-up when a patient cancels or is a no show.
- Buying muffins/buns from the shop on the way into work for the team.
- Buying posh coffee from the nearby coffee shop for your team.
- Asking someone about themselves, so they can feel heard and listened to.
- Giving a donation to charity.
- Giving someone the benefit of the doubt rather than jumping in.
- Complimenting or sending a thank you to a dental salesperson or engineer.
- Writing a 5-star review for good service you receive.
- Going out of your way to help someone.
- An extra team day off.
- Arranging a catch up with a friend you haven’t seen in a while.
You get the idea, a ‘Just Because’ is a basic act of kindness that just might make the difference to someone’s day, week or even month.
Yes, you have to work at it.
Yes, you must look for opportunities.
But the outcomes speak for themselves.
You might wonder why I am writing about kindness and ‘Just Because’ moments? It’s simply because dentistry has experienced its fair share of emotional and mental difficulties this past year. I witness practices being too busy, under a lot of stress, and less basic kindness in the world around us as I go on my travels each week.
Maybe if we all found more ‘Just Because’ moments this side of springtime, the world we live in might be a bit of better place.
Why not give it a try?