“All of your customers are partners in your mission.”
~ Shep Hyken
You know this patient well: The one who shows up to appointments early or on time. The one who recommends your practice to family, friends and neighbors. Your team always looks forward to the holidays in anticipation of this patient’s fresh baked goodies, delivered with a beautiful healthy smile! This patient makes referrals to you because of the trust you have developed and value of the services you provide. This patient cares about their dental health, you and your team.
Have you ever thought about hiring a patient? If your dental office has a front desk position open, look within your business for a customer who shares your passion. Reasons why hiring patients would be a good idea:
1. They already like your office environment.
2. They share your values.
3. They usually live close to the dental office.
4. They already know your staff, so they will start out comfortable within their new position.
5. They take good care of their teeth and gums with the recommendations from your team, so they would be able to present treatment plans to patients with passion and conviction, resulting in a high conversion rate to treatment.
6. They are able to identify with patients having walked in their shoes. They will always have personal stories to share that will make them relatable.
7. Their orientation and training would be easier because they are less likely to quit and already know what to expect.
Don’t rule out patients who are working either in a corporate job or from home. If you think a patient would make a good addition to your practice, plant a seed by sharing your job opening. You may be surprised, as this patient may be looking to transition to a small business or to a job closer to home with appealing work hours. It may be time to get out of the rat race of the corporate world and work in a family environment where this patient could make a difference. Someone who is working in the corporate world would be a good addition to your business as they would—more than likely—have a skill set your business can benefit from.
I learned long ago to surround myself with those who know more than I do. With an employee who has corporate skills, you could set something in motion that would catapult you to a higher level and set you apart from your competition.
Here’s one final bit of advice: Something I learned first-hand as I set out on my entrepreneurial journey is to never hire a friend. Keep in mind your dental office patients don’t have the emotional friendship ties to you that make managing friends difficult, yet another reason hiring a patient is a good idea. If you are thinking about adding a staff member or a support staff person, you know where to begin—simply look within. Talk with your staff members and begin you search with your customer base.
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