Getting January started – a reminder of the good habits you need to reactivate this week

It’s all too easy to get back from an extended break like Christmas and New Year and to conveniently forget some of the good habits that you were building at the latter end of 2018 but which require extra effort.

So here’s a very quick sense check that I recommend you share with your teams, perhaps at Friday morning’s huddle or before you close for the weekend.

  • Our patient recall system
    • are we still sending out correctly worded letters, emails and texts?
    • are we using Smile Checks when patients arrive?
  • Our social media engagement
    • are we following the 80/15/5 rule on content?
    • are we repurposing posts across different channels?
  • Our web site
    • are we analysing monthly stats on reach, bounce rate, mobile usage and engagement?
    • is the site up to date?
    • do we have a 2019 plan for web site improvements?
  • Our practice blog
    • does it exist?
    • do we have a volunteer writer(s)?
    • have we scheduled weekly posts?
  • Our patient/GDP email newsletter
    • does it exist?
    • are we following the 80/15/5 rule on content?
    • have we scheduled monthly publication?
    • do we have s system to regularly collect GDPR-compliant new subscribers?
  • Our daily huddle
    • does it exist?
    • do we discuss the correct issues – protocols and patients?
    • is it fully attended?
  • Our End of Treatment Review
    • is every patient invited to attend?
    • do we discuss the MRCREST list with them?
    • do we feed back results at huddles and monthly management meetings?
  • Our monthly management meeting
    • do we allocate 3-hours per month to work through the standard agenda recommended in The Extreme Business programme?
  • Our GDP Study Club
    • do we have a full year of meetings in place?
    • are we delivering content of interest?
    • do we follow three parallel tracks – clinical, business and social?
    • have we created a private Facebook Group for our referring GDPs?

None of the above are necessarily obvious, as it’s all too easy to become engrossed in the important daily routine of delivering excellent clinical care and customer service (yes – you have to do that as well).

However, the diligence with which you address the issues I’ve reminded you of here will determine the quality of your future profit, whilst the team are delivering today’s profits – today.

With that one eye on the future (a.k.a. marketing) – business can stay good right through the year.

0 Shares
0 Shares

Published by

Chris Barrow

Chris Barrow has been active as a consultant, trainer and coach to the UK dental profession for over 20 years. As a writer, his blog enjoys a strong following and he is a regular contributor to the dental press. Naturally direct, assertive and determined, he has the ability to reach conclusions quickly, as well as the sharp reflexes and lightness of touch to innovate, change tack and push boundaries. In 2014 he appeared as a “castaway” in the first season of the popular reality TV show “The Island with Bear Grylls”. His main professional focus is as Coach Barrow, providing coaching and mentorship to independent dentistry.