Small business owners, for purposes of this article, dental healthcare providers, are unique to your typical office structure. It tends to boil down to the front office and the back office. This is where the business and clinical staff works. This delineation shows up in the bottom line. I am a proponent of winning teams and not internal separation of the work force. When everyone is on the same team, mentally and physically, profits increase.

A Winning Workplace requires more than aesthetically pleasing architecture, lovely interior design and beautiful landscaping. All of these are definite pluses, however. Image is everything, almost. A Winning Workplace requires an attitude of excellence from leaders for physical, emotional and fiscal responsibility to its people and outstanding care for its patients (services or products).

Happy employees make happier spouses, parents, neighbours, friends and citizens. The impact one's workplace has on an individual is like that of a pebble thrown into a pond. It's referred to as harmonic resonance in music. The ripples make harmonic rhythms that can be felt throughout the universe. An unhappy team brewing over an improperly delivered change in job description can make for a hostile work environment in a very small business. Most health care providers, whether dentistry or medicine, will readily admit they know very little if anything about the business of running a practice. They hire competent employees, consultants and others to take on the day-to-day requirements of business operations. Clinically, they are trained, skilled and experts in their given fields. This acceptance and confession promotes excellence in the workplace. An expert in dentistry who is not qualified to handle the human resource functions and organizational structure of a small dental practice will eventually manifest itself in the lack of motivation from the staff and a disregard of his/her authority by the employees. An office manager would eliminate the problems faced by many dental offices with a staff of 4 or more. This new leader can then take on the responsibility of building a winning workplace.

An Office Manager is required to ensure the team is treated with dignity, fairness, respect, and appreciation. He/she will empower the team to help solve problems, do challenging work, gain new skills, and develop as individuals and professionals. Each employee will then feel a sense of accomplishment, satisfaction, and value. They will also enjoy better mental and physical health. Because the employees are happier knowing they are being shown they are of great value to the practice; they will work more effectively, function better as a team player (destroying the front office / back office drama), eliminate or reduce tardiness and absenteeism and become loyal, committed and dedicated to the practice. They will have no desire to seek employment elsewhere.

Those companies making the "100 Best Companies to Work For" serve as examples for every company, small or large. The employees of these companies are providing a higher standard of care to their customers because a higher standard of value has been placed on them. These companies get to enjoy a competitive edge. Their teams outperform the competition. Coming from a professional sales background, such accomplishments are sweet!

A Winning Workplace is better for your people and better for your business! Start the building process, now.

© 2006 Avis Ward of AWard Consulting, Inc. (Reprints permitted provided all links are kept active.)

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