Leadership Tips from Mike Rothschild

 
"Synergize" the Talents of Many

Synergy happens when a team of good people support a common mission.  Each person has a role in the group's success.  I am often asked how to handle a person in the office who does not seem to blend well with the rest of the team. 

Each person on any team has their own style of working, learning and being motivated.  But everybody wants to do a good job.  If energy is spent on getting the most out of each team member by matching them to a perfect set of responsibilities, the accomplishments of the group can be multiplied. 

Sometimes team members get a reputation for not pulling their weight because they are not responsible for tasks that suit their talents.  A friendly insurance processor who is constantly distracted by "friends" who want to say hello will always run behind with paperwork and stay frustrated.  And a receptionist who thrives on keeping up with paperwork will inevitably start taking shortcuts with client greetings when the workload increases.  Is there a way to shift responsibilities so the clients are treated better, the paperwork is processed on time and everybody is happier?  YES

Leaders first determine the vision of the organization, communicate that vision to the team then put them in the best position to excel: 

1- List each position in the office and describe the perfect person for that job. 

2 - Look at the person doing that job and evaluate if it seems like a match.  Many times, it is necessary to move someone into another seat. 

3- Once that is done, continue to tweak responsibilities until everyone is doing mostly what they enjoy doing.

A word of caution:  It is critically important that the entire team understands the overall mission of what you are trying to accomplish.  Shifting responsibility from one person to another makes people wonder,  "Was I doing a bad job?"  The task is still worth tackling, just be clear about your objectives.

 

Since the beginning of my career at WGEC I have had the opportunity to see our practice grow by leaps and bounds. One of the most vital resources allowing this growth is participating in a 1-2 day meeting called a "retreat." These meetings allow our staff to share as a group. We then realize that other team members share the same vision and/or concerns as we do.

After every retreat, we notice an immediate and significant increase in all of our income measurements.

Our leadership team plans retreats twice a year, one in spring and the other in fall. The event is placed in our calendar and the schedule rearranged. We look at our vision, goals and notes from the last retreat. After comparing all of the information, our biggest needs are identified by asking several questions:

• Are we having trouble getting our act together?
• Do we need to sharpen our skills?
• Are we ready to move in a different direction?

The answers to these questions will then navigate the theme of the retreat.

If we are having trouble getting our act together, then we will read our process manuals to verify accuracy and consistency. To sharpen our skills, we may have an expert guest visit or we can teach each other our areas of expertise. To move in a new direction we will spend most of our time brainstorming for new ideas and how to implement them .

The purpose of these retreats is to create an environment where everyone is free to share ideas, goals and concerns. Usually our passion for the vision erupts and somebody always cries. We may cry because we are allowed to say something that we've been holding in too long or because we feel such a strong connection to the team.  But, we always finish with a unified spirit and we are eager to take on our challenges that take us to the next level.

If organized properly, retreats can maximize the performance of your team and increase your profitability by simply empowering you. 

(Tiffany Ledbetter, ABO is the Optical Leader at West Georgia Eye Care.  She is the most friendly person in the office and responsible for making everyone feel special.  She can be reached at Tiffany@WestGaEyeCare.com.)