Measuring Morale in Your Team

The balance of the three Ms is what defines every dental practice– the quality, the culture, and the success. The goal that few achieve is to allocate equal attention to each one. This balance can drastically increase quality of life for everyone involved in the practice if fostered and maintained. The three Ms are:

Money

Morale

Mentorship

Money and mentorship typically take the lead when an owner is looking to improve his or her practice, but what role does morale play in the day-to-day? Firstly, it’s imperative to remember that your associates will not have the same mindset that you did at their age and that is a beautiful thing. Since they went to dental school at a completely different time and were taught differently, they can offer a fresh perspective. As an owner and a leader, it is so important to embrace that fact as well as give your associate grace when faced with differences. Immediately, this sets a tone in your business of understanding, thoughtfulness, and appreciation. 

Another way to keep staff engaged and motivated starts even before they are hired. At the end of an interview, share why you would work for yourself if the roles were reversed, including all the awesome parts (and the parts that get a little annoying at times). This communicates that you value authenticity in the workplace. Your new associate will feel comfortable having heard all aspects of the practice upfront as well as viewing you, the leader, as honest. At the end of the day, the best way to boost morale is completely free. Be candid with your staff– let them know you understand the hard parts of their day and show sympathy. This alone is a fantastic way to keep your team unified, especially during the more stressful days.

Further, if you are able, offering a guaranteed salary with bonus incentives will go a long way in ensuring employee satisfaction. More than simply offering them the convenience of financial comfort, this system also offers them security. Every day when an associate walks into the office, they can practice knowing that they have a steady, reliable income no matter what. A common counterargument to this payment system is that an associate given the luxury of performance-based incentives on top of a guaranteed salary invites laziness, however the truth of the matter is that laziness is a reflection of leadership. Laziness can easily be rectified with better hiring and inspiring practices. 

When considering the three Ms and the role they play in your practice, remember to keep in mind the value of morale. When your staff feel content with their job, you will quickly notice an increase in motivation, productivity, and collaboration in addition to a decrease in staff turnover. Pay attention to your staff’s happiness and you will undoubtedly see the results in their work performance. A happy team makes for happy patients and happy patients leads to a happy practice owner.