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A colleague knows someone with experience that is looking for a change and they are supposed to be calling you. That sure sounds better than hiring someone without any experience. On second thought, maybe it would be better if they didn't have any optical experience. At least you would know they wouldn't be bringing any optical baggage with them. Your staff keeps asking you when they can expect some help. It's nerve wracking and stressful thinking about all of this. Why is it so hard to find help, especially in this economy? What if the applicant impresses you and you hire them only to have them resign after a few months? What if their personality clashes with the rest of the staff? You can't forget the fear of hiring someone and then business slowing down. You know the fourth quarter of 2011 is upon us and the optical business has been known to be iffy.
The day is finally over and it's time to go home. Tomorrow looks like a good day to call your colleague back and have a staff meeting to discuss hiring someone for the
umpteenth time.
The fear of hiring or what I like to call Hirephobia is coming to a practice near you. I'm not afraid to tell you that
Hirephobia can be a tricky phobia to work with. Statistics may indicate that your practice is over or understaffed. However, it's the day to day operations of the practice that usually determines the severity of
Hirephobia.
If your practice has been booming with business and all of a sudden you have a few off days then
Hirephobia will go to work. Just when you thought it was safe to hire someone you are unsure again.
Hirephobia can be kept under control with frequent doses of
common sense. If fear is holding you back from hiring then you need to work through the fear. Your everyday actions could be costing you the new hire's paycheck.
What common sense steps can your practice take to generate income for your
Hirephobia fund?
A lined bifocal to progressive conversion a day? That can add up to a few paychecks in no time. Remember that even Benjamin Franklin was a progressive thinker.
Paying the monthly buying group bill on time to qualify for discounts? That can save you a few dollars to hundreds of dollars a month.
Negotiating for lower product costs? You never know until you ask. Also, if you self warrant your products you can lower your wholesale costs.
Cutting out the constant work interruptions about hiring? Save money and hire someone already instead of paying staff to talk about it.
Turning any lights off that aren't being used? Fifty cents here and there adds up.
Bartering with other business owners that offer cleaning services, carpet cleaning, landscaping? Make sure you are retail bartering.
Why keep throwing money right down the drain? Fix that noisy john or leaky faucet.
Cutting out toilet paper since you're a paperless practice? (just kidding)
Keeping a sharp eye out for vendor's billing errors and any credits that you are owed? That's money that is sometimes overlooked in practices.
Placing a jar on the front counter to collect money for your Hirephobia Fund? (not)
Instead of worrying about the most popular practice fear of not being able to afford to hire any help, worry about these:
Worry about the noticeable signs that your staff is becoming less engaged in their work
Worry about your patients being taken care of to the highest degree
Worry about word of mouth advertising
Worry about what patients think when you don't spend adequate time with them
Worry about service after the sale
Worry about referrals from patients
Worry about the attitude of your staff
Worry about treating others like you would like to be treated
It doesn't matter if your practice has been in business for 6 months or 60 years, practice growth is reflected by your reputation. Reputation is gauged on the inside of the practice as well as the outside. The inside being how well the staff is treated and the outside being your patients, clients or customers.
Don't let your reputation suffer from Hirephobia. Take these doses of common sense and call me in the morning.
While you were helping Sally Sue, a potential patient got tired of waiting and left. Who has time to stand around unacknowledged and wait when in their mind you should have enough help? Every person that walks through the door should be greeted within seconds. First impression losses could be cut with adequate help.
You missed a phone call that was a new patient trying to schedule an appointment so they called the next provider on their list. That answering service might not be a bad idea after all.
Take good care of staff that made the Hirephobia cut. Catch them doing something right more often than wrong. Some of them are doing their work and picking up the slack of unfilled positions. Make sure you are giving them a good return on their investment to the practice. You get more productivity out of your help when people matter more than profits.
I hope this cures some of your Hirephobia for the sake of your patients, your staff and your sanity.
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Ginny Johnson
LDO, ABOC |
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