Lisa Bainham from the Association of Dental Administrators and Managers looks at how the Seven Deadly Sins can affect your practice management in a positive way!
Lust
Self-control cures lust
Now let’s be clear, I’m not talking about lust in the workplace…let’s face it, that would be very dicey. Lust in terms of Practice Management is having a strong passion and longing to succeed to the disadvantage of your colleagues. Let’s use that urge and leverage it to create energy for the good of others and do it as a team. Get your teams juices flowing with enthusiasm and a passion to succeed together. A successful practice is a collaboration of great people not 1.
Gluttony
Temperance and moderation cures gluttony
So yes, we all have that race to the staff rest room when we here there’s a supply of goodies, but the Gluttony I want you to think about is promoting the desire to be healthy, with a healthy positive mindset that ripples through your team. Create a great culture to nurture great relationships.
Greed
Charity cures greed
As managers the team can often feel like we get the wins. Cheer on your team, help them succeed and give praise where its due, don’t covet the successes and ignore the fails.
Sloth
Diligence cures slothfulness
Don’t become complacent managers. Plan, measure, plan again, do better. We all need that goal to continue to grow our practices and inspire our teams.
Wrath
Patience cures wrath
Take the time to understand your teams needs and desires. Don’t react before looking at what’s happened, why and how? Look at situations from other people’s perspectives. Be an understanding, fair manager… manage problems calmly and avoid creating a blame culture. We don’t blame people we blame systems.
Envy
Kindness cures envy
Be confident in yourself but don’t be jealous or obstructive to other peoples wins. You are their manager. Be a part of their successes and support them. If you feel threatened, ask yourself why and deal with it. You are in a privileged position, don’t abuse it.
Pride
Humility cures pride
As managers, let’s try to remove our ego’s. Be confident and proud but not boastful and temper that within your team.
Along with the seven deadly sins, we also have the virtues. These for many of us have come under great pressure, especially during the pandemic. So many practice managers, owners and teams have so many great virtues and while they have certainly been tested, it’s a testament to so many that they have managed to improve and grow as leaders, and be a valued, respected part of their teams.
