Ultimate Practice Tip of the Week
Practice-Building Tip for the Week of August 30, 2010

Motivation in the Workplace

Many Chiropractors are often overwhelmed with competing demands on their time, conflicting priorities and an overburdened schedule. They are working longer hours, are distracted, have trouble asking their peers or CAs for help and/or delegating work effectively. If these conditions tend to persist, you must ask yourself the question: how can I operate differently?

Sure it can be a challenge to get yourself in the mood when your work seems overwhelming, but the next time you find yourself or your team challenged for motivation, surround yourself with a good support system and incorporate some of the following 10 suggestions:

1. Have your team write down their goals, as well as writing down your own. By seeing your goals written down in a list, it will be easier for you to tackle them one at a time. As you complete one goal you can then cross it off your list. Chart what you have accomplished by designing your own map of completed goals and post it somewhere that is visible daily. There’s a certain satisfaction that comes with watching your goals be accomplished. When times get hard, you can always turn to your chart and see how far you’ve come.


2. Constantly prioritize and plan ahead to figure out which task you or your team should be working on. Getting urgent tasks out of the way will give you a clearer assessment how much time it will take to do something and determine the best approach completing all tasks at hand.


3. Have everyone in your practice focus on how they will feel, once they’ve accomplished one of their goals. For example, if someone is trying to stop smoking, ask them to imagine how they will feel once they have quit. Have them concentrate on the increased energy they will have, or how better their food will taste! With those ideas in mind, it is easier for everyone to stay focused on their goals.


4. Be Positive! Talk, walk, and do everything with a positive flare. With a positive attitude you will accomplish more than without one. A smile and a positive outlook can be infectious and cause those around you to be positive as well!


5. Recognizing positive behavior in the workplace can help employees feel appreciated and let them know that their contribution is important. It is amazing what a small compliment and token of your appreciation can do. By rewarding employees who exceed your expectation with extra time off or a bonus, you can lift up the entire office spirit and create an atmosphere where people will want to do their best.


6. Good training can also help to motivate your employees. By properly training a new employee, you will help them to fit into their jobs and your practice. Good training will give the newly hired person, as well as someone who is already a part of your team, the self-confidence to work independently. By giving employees new skills, you will build a staff that is more motivated to advance and become more proficient in their jobs.


7. Keep the “lines of communication” open. By allowing your employees to give their input you will allow your staff to feel comfortable with fitting in. Let your employees know that you value their contributions. Trust is established when even the newest rookie, a part-timer, or the lowest paid employee feels important and part of the team.


8. Have everyone including yourself take responsibility! Don’t have an “out clause” and stop blaming everyone else for your own mistakes. There are always a ton of reasons why, but only you can make a difference in your own performance. Take it, own it and go on to the next challenge.


9. Have fun doing what you do! Whenever you accomplish a demanding task -always reward yourself. It really does help with maintaining motivation. People who have cause to take pride in their work, who are able to express and demonstrate that pride, will have reason to look forward to coming to work and take enjoyment from what they accomplish.


10. Establish and maintain integrity. It is the foundation of trust in any organization. Integrity must begin at the top and then move down. This means, among other things, keeping promises and always telling the truth, no matter how difficult it might be. If its people have integrity, an organization can be believed.