One of the key components of a successful workplace is a thriving team environment. But how do you engage a disengaged team? Robyn Reis, Director of Hiring and VP of Coaching for All-Star Dental Academy, offers valuable tips on how to achieve this.
As a certified HR consultant with Ben Erickson and Associates and a faculty member at the Pankey Institute, Robyn has helped hundreds of practices with practice administration, marketing, HR, hiring, and team culture.
In this podcast episode of the Dental All-Stars Podcast, Robyn reveals what “Thriving at Work” means and how it affects the ability to succeed in a practice.
Here’s a summary of Robyn’s advice on engaging a disengaged team and her tips for thriving at work. With Robyn’s guidance, you can create an enjoyable and productive atmosphere for everyone in your workplace.
What does thriving at work mean?
According to Robyn, thriving at work means having the ability to enjoy the people you work with, have meaningful and enjoyable work, opportunities for growth and learning, and a sense of well-being. It also means being energized and motivated by your work, which isn’t always the case in dental offices or other workplaces.
Why is thriving at work important?
When it comes to why doctors want their teams to thrive and take ownership, several benefits cannot be overlooked. Not only will the team experience less stress, but they will experience greater job satisfaction. Numerous studies support this notion, and it’s clear that having a happy, motivated team should be a priority for any dentist.
If you find yourself in a situation where the team is not engaged or motivated, it is important for both team members and leaders to identify the root of the issue and work towards a solution. Team members should talk to their doctor about introducing change for the better and leaders must pay attention to the atmosphere their team is working in.
The goal is for everyone to be on board with making the workplace the best environment possible and by identifying the issues and discussing potential solutions, this can become a reality. In doing so, everyone will reap the rewards of a happier and more motivated work space.
How the office environment and your coworkers affect your ability to thrive
Creating a thriving office environment and fostering positive relationships between coworkers are key to a successful practice. According to research from Gallup and Forbes, the state of employee disengagement is at an all-time high, but those in leadership roles who are aware of the importance of creating a culture of care for their team members are turning to strategies to help promote effective team building.
Rather than relying on exit interviews when someone resigns, one effective strategy is conducting ‘stay interviews.’ During these conversations, managers don’t focus on work performance but instead check in with employees on more personal matters, such as how work affects their home lives and how the company can best support them. By having these conversations, the manager and employee get to know each other on a deeper level and create an environment of mutual trust and respect.
Team building activities outside of the office are also important for fostering strong relationships between coworkers. Getting to know each other in settings that aren’t related to work allows individuals to bond with each other in a more relaxed setting. Additionally, it allows employees to be appreciated in a different context rather than just focusing on tasks and deadlines. Saying thank you more often is another simple way to show the appreciation that goes a long way toward creating a thriving work environment.
For practices to remain successful and keep their team members engaged while also avoiding burnout, it is essential that they create an atmosphere of support and recognition so that everyone can thrive.
All About All-Star Hiring
All-Star Hiring is a unique service that strives to become an extension of dental practices. With the mission of giving back the valuable “gift of time,” All-Star Hiring does all the time-consuming aspects of hiring to help dentists with the right candidates. All-Star Hiring takes care of everything from crafting job postings to reviewing resumes to conducting phone and zoom interviews. They even assist in offering letters and background checks.
Rather than taking a “quick hire” approach, All-Star Hiring takes a “slow to hire, quick to fire” approach with careful due diligence to ensure candidates will be a good fit for your practice. What makes All-Star Hiring stand out from other recruiting services and online job boards is its staff. All-Star Hiring comprises experienced individuals in the dental industry who have both clinical and administrative experience and really understand what it means to live the life of a dentist. They also offer a unique personality profiling process, highlighted at our live event, and can be accessed by reaching out to robyn@allstardentalacademy.com or heather@allstardentalacademy.com.
The team at All-Star Hiring offers services for hiring in the United States and Canada and is now even helping with associate hiring through their affiliates. For an all-inclusive experience in finding the best candidate for your practice, All-Star Hiring is the answer. So don’t wait any longer – contact Robyn or Heather today and get started!
Robyn’s tip on how to become more engaged at work
One piece of advice we can all take away from Robyn is to start having meaningful conversations with each other. It can be as simple as asking your colleagues how they’re doing or ensuring they’re prepared for upcoming holidays and weekends. By engaging with each other in this way, teams can build trust and empathy, which will help them feel more fulfilled and engaged.
Sometimes employees can feel disconnected and unengaged due to specific workplace woes. If you’re a team member and this applies to you, take the initiative by reaching out to your manager or doctor for advice on what would make you thrive. It could be anything from introducing new learning opportunities to setting up group activities.
If you’re a manager or leader, show your team members that you care by simply checking in with them and making an effort to get to know them better.
This is the one thing that can make a real difference when it comes to thriving at work – so don’t forget it!
Do you want to learn more about how to engage a disengaged team? Listen to the whole episode and don’t forget to join us at the All-Star Practice Growth Summit in South Florida on May 19th and 20th, where Robyn will discuss this topic in detail.
RESOURCES
Learn more about the All-Star Practice Growth Summit: https://www.allstardentalacademy.com/live-event
Subscribe to the Dental All-Stars Podcast:
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dental-all-stars-dental-practice-training-systems/id887322180
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7CAKkvNddKTuRK1pmfAbDP
