lead the way by working hard and being committed to every facet of your clinic. Once you have consistently set an example, then it is time to move on to step 2, which is to “inspire a shared vision.” It is very important that your staff understand and hear your vision (the big picture) in order to get behind your cause. It is therefore essential to sit down and share that information with them before you enrol them to take on more. This seems very simple; however, it requires some practice – so work on it a bit before you have your sit-down with your CA. DO, DELEGATE OR DUMP When you are ready to address this head-on with your CA, it is important that you recognize where you are taking on too much in your clinic. If you are a good self-evaluator, do this part alone. If not, a colleague could be of some help. Make a list of all of your daily responsibilities, everything from adjusting patients to answering e-mails, to emptying the trash can. Once you have done this, go away and come back to the list at a different point in time and take a good look at it. Organize the list from one to 100 in order of importance. For example, if adjusting patients is your most important item, then rank that number 1. Once you have your list, circle your top 5. This is where your focus should be! If your attention is dragged to the things from five to 100 on your list, it is very likely that you will not have the focus or energy to do your top five things well. In the office of a colleague of mine, I saw a piece of paper with three simple words that stuck in my head forever. These words were “do, delegate or dump.” (I love it!) Look at your list and pick out some of the things that you can dump and get rid of altogether. Now, and only now, are you ready to sit down with your CA to share some of the things on your list that you need help with. Again, if you have painted the big picture on why you need the help, they will be more energized and inspired to help take on the extra tasks. SUPPORT, ACKNOWLEDGE, AWARD Kouzes and Posner’s last step is to encourage the heart. This means that once your staff have taken more on, it is extremely important to support them, acknowledge them and reward them when they are doing well. You have heard the old adage that less is more. This golden rule also applies to sustained practice growth. Most people get this backwards. They believe growing is adding more activity, gaining new skills, and getting more new patients. In fact, growth is not about adding activity – growth is a shedding process. Be willing to give up some control, focus on the big things, and in time be ready to serve more people. Remember, when it comes to your practice work from the in-side out. • KEYS TO SUSTAINED GROWTH Give up the need to control every function of your clinic. Instead, model the way to increased productivity and in-spire those around you to take part in your clinic’s success. AcTIon STepS: • Make your list and circle the top 5 • Dump the things that you don’t need to be doing • Share the big picture with your CA • Enrol them to take on some of the things on your list 44 • CANADiAN CHiROPRACTOR | APRiL 2013 www.canadianchiropractor.ca
Chiropractic + Naturopathic Doctor April 2013: Page 44
