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Professional News Articles : FRONT DESK by Mary M. Byers, CAE : Check your effectiveness

Check your effectiveness

August 5, 2008

It’s a good idea to take a break from the daily grind occasionally and check your current level of effectiveness in the workplace, especially if you’ve been at your job for a while. Inertia can set in and slowly erode your effectiveness if you’re not diligent about reviewing your work and measuring your attitude. The following list will help you determine if you’re working up to your full potential.

Deliver more than expected. Do you show up to work on time? Are you helpful to co-workers and pitch in without being asked? Do you smile frequently and help patients feel welcome, even when you’re having a bad day? Do you appreciate and acknowledge the work of other team members? Answering these questions may uncover areas for improvement.

Don’t over promise. Commit to doing what you know you can, and then do it. Don’t make promises you’re not certain you can keep. And if you do make a promise you’re going to have to break, call immediately. Apologize. Offer an alternative. Broken promises aren’t the end of the word - unless you fail to acknowledge them or accept responsibility.

Make going above the call of duty your standard operating procedure. How can you go over and above the call of duty every day? It’s a great question to ask. Patients will love you for it and so will your employer. Plus, since most employees don’t ask this question, you’ll have a competitive edge.

What’s keeping you from being more effective on the job? Ask and answer this question regularly. Do you need more training? Would specialized equipment or software allow you to do your job better? Identify what would make you a better employee and ask for it.

Work on your relationship with other staff members. Is there someone on staff you don’t work well with? If so, it might be time for a frank discussion to find out why. Often, stressed internal relationships are simply due to lack of communication. Take the time to approach anyone who is difficult for you to work with. Tell them you value your relationship with them and ask if there’s anything you can do to make their job easier. Listen to what they say. Before the conversation ends, make sure you tell them how they could make your job easier as well. Though you don’t have to be friends with everyone you work with, it is important that you strive to have a civil working relationship.

Speak up when you see a potential problem. Do you notice a scheduling problem? Ask about it. Is a patient due for a procedure for which authorization has been received? Make a phone call for a status report. Make it a habit to be on the alert and to notice what’s going on around you. Having your antenna up and working is one of the best ways to insure you’re effective.

Another way to ensure you’re effective is to be intentional about your work and evaluate it regularly. Doing so is the difference between mediocrity and excellence in the workplace. And why settle for mediocre when you can excel?

CDS presents Front Desk, a column addressing problems dentists and staff members experience in the office. Front Desk is prepared by Mary M. Byers, CAE, a professional speaker and freelance writer. Ms. Byers may be reached at mbyers@marybyers.com or www.marybyers.com. Send suggestions for topics to be covered to review@cds.org.

© 2008, Chicago Dental Society