How often do you give or receive a “thank you” while at work? Do you feel appreciated enough for the work you do?
Hopefully you answered “yes” to those questions, because it turns out gratitude in the workplace can go a long way towards boosting the morale of everyone in a dental office. It increases people’s sense of self-worth, shows that they are a necessary part of the team, and positively reinforces the good work they do. This means happier, better cared for patients and a more productive practice.
So, if you didn’t answer yes to our questions above, how can you start spreading the love in your office?
- Start with the doctor.
As the head of the practice, it’s up to them to set a good example. From a simple “thank you” at the end of the day to making expressing gratitude a part of performance reviews, the doctor can set the tone for a thankful office. - Thank EVERYONE.
Often there are people in every work place (not just the dental industry) who seem to be forgotten when it comes to gratitude. So make sure to reach out to all members of the office. After all, everyone contributes something necessary to its success. - Don’t say “thank you” just to say it.
Make sure any expression of gratitude is genuine and sincere. Forcing gratitude will only lead to resentment and mistrust. - Provide opportunities for gratitude.
Don’t overdo it, but having office activities that foster thankful feelings and the positive showing of those feelings can have a lasting positive effect. Try having teammates share something they’re grateful for in your morning huddle, or encourage nonverbal gratitude, such as a gift exchange around the holidays.
