This is the time of year when we often think of gratitude and giving. As much as we focus on being grateful for our health and our family, how often do we put these practices of thankfulness and generosity into our workplace?

Here are some simple strategies that you can put in place in your dental office tomorrow that can have a huge impact on the dynamic and culture of your team.

1. Share a win – start off your team meetings by having each person share something that went positively or something they are proud of from the week or days prior. It’s so easy to think about and discuss what didn’t go right, focusing on those positive things your team has accomplished will have everyone feeling more appreciative of your patients, team, and their job.
2. Notice when someone on your team does something helpful. Be grateful for those team members around you that help you get through the grueling days and who contribute to those days when everything is going right. A simple, “Hey, thanks for your help cleaning up my room,” or “Thanks for working hard to fill the schedule back up when it fell apart earlier today,” go a long way toward team members feeling like what they do matters to the rest of you. And don’t forget the doctor. He/she needs compliments too, and the clinical team has the unique capability to be able to positively praise the doctor’s dentistry in a way that patients can’t. “Wow Dr., that was a beautiful restoration you did with our last patient,” is something the doctor probably doesn’t hear enough.
3. Start a new team-building tradition that will bond you all tighter. Pick a day of the week to trade off bringing in an appetizer or soup to share with the team. Another idea is to do a secret Santa or white elephant gift exchange. Everyone will feel more connected when you have team traditions, especially this time of the year. Keep the cost on these ideas low to ensure that everyone is able to participate.
4. If you are the boss/dentist, consider showing a little extra appreciation on those days that team members really wow you. Handing out a $100 bill or even a gift card when you see that someone has gone above and beyond in a big way really shows how much you appreciate hard work. For those amazing “flow days” when everyone works together seamlessly, you could hand out hundreds or bring in lunch or dinner the following day, letting the team know what you observed and why you are doing something extra. This will reinforce that teamwork, and you’ll soon find more and more of those days occurring!

Keep in mind that generosity and gratitude are contagious, so even if you start doing one small thing, there will be a positive ripple effect on your team! And truly, many of these ideas can be carried out all through the year.

And here’s my moment of gratitude to you… Thank you for reading this article and following along with Martin Management! Even if your office isn’t signed up to create the dental spa experience for your patients yet, I know that you are already on your way to making dentistry better simply by being a part of this journey with me.

I wish you a holiday season filled with great memories!