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CDS Member News and ArticlesProfessional News Articles : FRONT DESK by Mary M. Byers, CAE : Take time for a self-assessment Take time for a self-assessmentJanuary 6, 2009 The beginning of a new year is the perfect time to pause and complete a self-assessment designed to enhance your value as an employee. How are you doing in each of the following areas? Team spirit. Do you readily pitch in and help fellow staff members? Are you a “go-to” employee that your boss can rely on? Are you easy-going and easy to get along with? If not, this is an area you should focus on over the upcoming year. It’s much easier for a dentist to manage a staff that gets along with each other than one that doesn’t. Flexibility. Are you able to change directions when the practice does? How are you at handling emergencies, cancellations and the other interruptions that inevitably happen in a practice? Flexible employees are valuable employees. If you’re not one, consider working on developing this characteristic. Energy. Energy is contagious. Is yours positive or negative? Are you more like Tigger or Eeyore in Winnie the Pooh? Though this trait is often inborn, if you’re naturally pessimistic, you can practice finding the good in things and being more optimistic. And if you’re over-energetic, you can work on toning it down to more closely match the style of those you work with. Enthusiasm. Employers love employees who are interested in their jobs, their surroundings and their fellow staff members. Do you show eagerness and passion for your job? Both are contagious and positively influence patients, another attribute that employers appreciate. Creativity. Do you strive to find new ways of doing things? Are you a gifted problem-solver? Employers highly value these skills. If they are not currently in your repertoire, they can be. Start by asking yourself questions as you work such as “How can we do this differently?” and “What if. . . ?” By asking the questions, you’ll learn to routinely stretch your mind and practice thinking in new and different ways. The more you do this, the more it will become second nature. Knowledge. Do you regularly work to expand your knowledge and stretch your mind? You should, even if it means paying for your own continuing education courses or taking a vacation day to learn something new. Knowledge acquisition doesn’t just have to be related to work to be valuable. Learning new skills or developing a new hobby outside of work often will enhance work performance as your mind is stimulated in new ways. Mindfulness. Do you pay careful attention to the people you come in contact with each day, or has your job become so routine that you sleepwalk through each day? Mindful employees notice both challenges and opportunities and are willing to embrace both. Mindless employees don’t really care about either. The more mindful you are, the higher your value as an employee. The above are just a few of the characteristics you can focus on developing as you move into a new year. Take time to do a self-assessment and you may be able to add a few more characteristics to your personal list. Good luck as you work to develop yourself and ensure your value as an employee!
CDS presents Front Desk, a column addressing problems dentists and staff members experience in the office. Front Desk is prepared by Mary M. Byers, CAE, a professional speaker and freelance writer. Ms. Byers may be reached at mbyers@marybyers.com or www.marybyers.com. Send suggestions for topics to be covered to review@cds.org. |
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