Enticing isn’t it?
To think there is a magic bullet out there. Something quick and simple that you can implement.
Something that doesn’t require a lot of time or effort, and will make your business soar.
Some magic secret that only a few people know.
And there are plenty of people out there selling magic bullets. The only problem is that if you buy one, they don’t work for you.
So you wonder if you’re doing something wrong. If the magic has rubbed off.
Or maybe that bullet is just for other people. So you go looking for another one.
And another one.
Well here’s the thing that no one will tell you. It’s not you.
The truth about magic bullets in business is that they don’t work. They don’t work for you because they don’t work for anyone.
Their magic is that they disappear as soon as you buy them.
Some of them will give a very short term gain, which makes them seem like they’re “the answer”.
But they don’t last because, just like real magic, they’re slight of hand.
A conjurer’s trick designed to entice you. To lure you in.
They sound good and they look good, but they’re just like fairy floss that melts in your mouth.
They’re not substantial and they won’t stand the test of time.
But it’s not all bad news. Because there are some things you can do that will have an almost magical effect on your practice.
They’re not as enticing as a quick fix because they take time and energy.
They’re not as fast as a bullet, but they can make your practice soar.
They ‘re not a secret that few people know, but they are things that few people do.
Some of them are simple, but not easy.
Here are six key factors that can have a magical effect on your dental practice.
1. Being Outstanding
What’s an outstanding business? One that positions itself as the expert in their field.
One who goes out of their way to prioritise their customers.
One who never stops at ‘good enough’, but always strives to do better.
Being an outstanding business means demonstrating how much you care about your patients. That’s every single patient. Every single time.
You map out all the touch points of your practice – all the contact that anyone has with it – and ensure they are all top quality, or state of the art.
You strive to give your patients a fabulous experience when they call you, when they visit you, or when they come across you on the web or in any other medium.
Yes, it takes time and effort, but the rewards are worth it because you build an exceptional reputation and a reputation of being exceptional.
2. Standing Out
Standing out is different from being outstanding.
A business that stands out is different. It’s not ‘just another dental business’ any more than Apple is just another computer company.
It’s a business that stands for something. That has a personality and a set of values.
Yes, you can stand out for having exceptional service, but you need to give it your own unique twist.
Your website should stand out as being different from other dental websites. Your corporate culture should be unique.
Think about Ben and Jerry’s. In a world of ice cream, what other company has such unique flavours? Coach Potato is a sweet ice cream that has “chocolatey covered potato chip clusters” in it. Chubby Hubby has “peanutty fudge-covered pretzels”.
Now I’m not saying I’m a huge fan of Ben and Jerry’s, or that you need to do something so very different from your competitors. But you need to stand for something. You need to be yourself.
3. Caring For Customers
Having excellent customer care has to come from a place of authenticity. You have to truly care about each and every person.
As Dentists we do care – it’s generally what got us into this industry. But we don’t always do a great job of demonstrating it.
Having great customer care is closely tied to being outstanding, but not on such a grand scale.
You can demonstrate great customer care in some very simple ways. Call you patients by their name, focus your attention on them, and agree to their requests whenever possible.
Treat your patients as the individuals they are, and they’ll love you for it.
4. Building Loyalty
Patient loyalty is key to patient retention.
And you know that retaining patients is easier and less costly than finding new ones. Not only that, but loyal patients are less likely to cancel, and far more likely to accept the treatment plans you suggest.
So you want loyalty, but how do you build it?
Well, you create loyalty by creating value. When your patients value your services, their loyalty increases.
And you create value by reminding your patients what services they’re receiving, and how you’re helping them, at every opportunity.
This can be done naturally and easily. If you need a refresher, pop over and read all about The Secret to Patient Loyalty. The post contains sample scripts that you can adopt and tailor to your own unique style.
5. Building An Elite Team
Building an elite team is critical to business success. An elite team helps you retain patients by building patient loyalty.
They help you get more done in less time. They help skyrocket your revenue.
To get this really right requires a number of steps, including:
- Recruiting the right people
- Onboarding new staff effectively
- Training each team member
- Scoping, or having a clear definition of each person’s role within your practice
- Reviewing the performance of each person in the team on a regular basis
Once you build an elite team, you’ll enjoy high staff morale, low staff turnover, and increased patient loyalty.
Life will generally become a lot easier because you’ll be able to delegate effectively and streamline the processes within your practice.
6. Having Strong Leadership
Having an elite team helps create a successful practice, but your team won’t remain elite for long without a strong and dependable leader.
This doesn’t mean you need to micromanage or control people. Strong leaders are confident. They have a clear vision and they communicate it clearly.
Strong leaders work to constantly improve themselves. They lead by example, generate enthusiasm and empower their people.
Strong leaders are authentic and focus on the situation or issue, rather than the person. They are people that the team can look up to, and aspire to be like.
As a leader, the more you thrive, the more your business thrives.
The Real Magic Bullets In Business
Wouldn’t it be great if you could magically transform your practice into the one you dream of?
A successful, thriving business with an elite team.
A business that’s as low maintenance as you want, and one you’re fully in control of.
Well here’s a secret you might not know.
Your practice can magically transform into whatever you imagine.
But it’s down to you.
You’re the leader who can influence and empower your team. You get to choose how you stand out from the competition.
You get to foster patient loyalty and care.
It doesn’t take a magic bullet, it just takes a little time and effort. So it just comes down to one question.
Are you willing to put in the work?
