A medical office is filled with many different personalities and many different dynamics. And with those differences come office politics. And with the politics the manager can become a casualty. Here are the solutions to five situations where politics and personalities come into play. They are outlined by Margaret Hintz, SPHR, manager of HR services for Insperity, an … [Read more...] about 4 tricks to surviving and thriving in a highly political office
Managing staff
How I use disagreements to build stronger teams
By Audrey Epstein bio Because I facilitate team sessions for a living, I've seen lots of team interactions—all kinds of drama, some shouting and tears, but also lots of laughter, joy, and bold action. Much about teamwork has been researched, dissected, and discussed. Yet lately, I've been thinking a lot about an unexplored topic: how to get team members to disagree. … [Read more...] about How I use disagreements to build stronger teams
2 proven ways to build staff morale fast
What builds staff morale? Letting staff participate in the office's operations, getting their ideas, and using their suggestions are good for morale. And there are two ways to achieve these ends. One is to survey staff on their attitudes and opinions. The other is to set up a suggestion program. Simple as those may be, they work because people want to be listened to. They … [Read more...] about 2 proven ways to build staff morale fast
It’s not me, it’s you: 5 office policies to break up with
By Paul Edwards bio Springtime may mean that love is in the air, but your office can't hesitate to dump a policy that creates problems. Some policies are so blatantly unenforceable, they shouldn't even have gotten past the first date! If any of these are in your employee handbook, it's time to say, "Let's not even be friends anymore." #1: "Employee salaries are … [Read more...] about It’s not me, it’s you: 5 office policies to break up with
Why you need to stop talking to start leading
By Rebecca Teasdale bio Recently, a colleague and I were at a dinner function with a group of leaders from a client company. We found ourselves seated at a table with a new member of the executive team who we were meeting for the first time. Waiting for the plated meals to arrive, we eased into the conversation with small talk about sports and weather and then we … [Read more...] about Why you need to stop talking to start leading
Why employers often get worker wellbeing wrong and how to get it right
A new report from the Campbell Institute indicates not all employers are getting worker wellbeing right, and it could be affecting the sustainability of their business. While many organizations today are focused on wellbeing programs that tackle smoking cessation, weight loss or nutrition—not bad programs in and of themselves—the Campbell Institute report indicates a more … [Read more...] about Why employers often get worker wellbeing wrong and how to get it right
A look at the medical practice organizational structure
By Nick Hernandez bio The purpose of an organization chart is to depict the skeletal structure of the practice, including the functional relationships between, among, and within the specific components. An organization chart provides a point of reference and improves the flow and direction of communications. It allows people to see how they fit in the big picture, … [Read more...] about A look at the medical practice organizational structure
Front desk moves its phones into a communications center
A Colorado manager has taken the telephones off the front desk and set up a communications center. The noise, other commotion, and staff burnout at the front desk have ended. As a result, the four-doctor, 16-staff office is able to see more patients in a day. Before the change, the front desk was nothing short of frustrating. It was noisy with phones ringing. Worse, staff had … [Read more...] about Front desk moves its phones into a communications center
Is this the most valuable perk for your employees?
Flexible work hours are the perk that influences employee satisfaction the most, according to a new survey by Clutch, a B2B research firm. More than 40% of the full-time U.S. employees surveyed say that flexible hours are the most important perk they receive, and over half (54%) say it's the perk that matters most to their job satisfaction. Professional development is the … [Read more...] about Is this the most valuable perk for your employees?
Cheap management tricks that really work
By Dr. Steve M. Cohen Sometimes office management is more a matter of quickly throwing out a good answer rather than some profound strategy or statement. I'm not trying to minimize the organization and old-fashioned brainpower that goes into managing an organization. If you've read many of my blogs, you know that I view your job as challenging and often frustrating. It's … [Read more...] about Cheap management tricks that really work