Posted on 07-19-10
TRAINING by John Chatham, Vice President, Global Sales Leadership and Development, Henry Schein
Let’s face it. The most important part of your business is the people that represent you. In dentistry, we have known for many years that a well trained, highly motivated group of people working together makes for a better business and working environment. However, what we also know is that developing an effective training program for a small business is difficult, to say the least. While we do have many continuing education courses to promote clinical competence, the everyday workings and communication of the team is somewhat lacking.
So here are some ideas on having meaningful training in the dental environment.
Assess Your Situation What are the outcomes you want to occur? Who is the person or persons most responsible for that particular outcome?
Analyze Your Situation Are you currently continually getting those outcomes? Is your team aware of what you are looking for, and if so, are they performing to your expectations? Are the right people in the right seats? Basically, do they currently have the skill set necessary to perform the duties?
Engage Ask your team what development they need to do better in their current position. They know better than anybody what skills they need to improve or develop. Ask them to seek out ways and methods of developing the training, and report back to you the results.
Develop Internally develop your training, using participatory learning and workshops. Focus on people development more than skill-set development. Enable personal development and learning. You don’t have to have or even give all the answers. We learn by doing and making mistakes. Allow your team to do so. Prioritize your training by understanding what is essential and what is necessary. There are many sources you can use to develop training the internet, consultants, and dental-supply representatives, to name a few.
Evaluate Is the training working? Are you seeing a difference in your practice? Are outcomes changing? Measure your outcomes to the goals of your practice.
Recognize Acknowledge team members for use of the training. Find the good in what they are doing as it relates to the training they have received.
Consistency Set a timetable for your training. At least one hour per month to make your practice more efficient and less stressful is little to ask.
The key to effective training is engaging your team to help develop and participate in the training. Workshops are highly effective and team workshops are the best. Let your team develop personally and encourage them at every step. Reward them with appreciation and recognition and they will make your life easier.
Ask your Henry Schein representative for our team harmony workshops to get started.