You can’t always get what you want, goes the classic Rolling Stones song. This is especially true when trying to hire quality employees. Many dentists make the mistake of only looking for a dental superstar to join their practices, while disregarding many other worthy applicants.
Think of pro sports… there are only so many superstars––whether it’s Serena Williams or Tom Brady––out there. And sometimes these high performers have their own issues, such as not “playing well” with other team members.
If you can find a superstar who’s a good fit for your practice, great. If you can’t, here are three qualities that you should look for in prospective employees:
1. Potential to Be Great
Everyone has to start somewhere. Maybe this candidate doesn’t have much experience, but has demonstrated through her education, non-dental employment and volunteer activities that she has the right stuff to be a key contributor to your practice’s success.
Early in their careers, even superstars weren’t truly superstars. If you can get someone who can become––with the right training and mentorship––a great employee, then you may end up having superstar in your practice for a long time.
2. Want to Grow, Learn, and Get Better
In your search, you will probably run across candidates who are switching careers or attempting to re-enter the work force after a hiatus as a stay-at-home parent. Many of these people possess the capabilities to become quality team members, especially on the administrative side of the practice. Look at their experience… do you see a commitment to learning, taking on new responsibilities and adding new skills?
Realize that there are far more people with non-dental work experience out there. Many of them can make excellent additions to your staff, if they have a track record that shows a demonstrated ability for achievement and growth.
3. Enthusiastic and Energetic
Personality matters. You need positive people in your practice. Expert clinical care goes hand in hand with excellent customer service. There may be times that a person with little experience but a lot of enthusiasm may be the best choice. Of course, you want to conduct at least two interviews to make sure that this person would be a good fit for the practice.
Conclusion
Will you be able to hire superstar team members every time? Probably not.
What you can do is look for people who have the potential to be superstars, who want to grow, and who are energized and enthusiastic. When people are willing to learn and improve, great things can happen.
Additional Resources
- The Office Policy Manual – every practice should have one!
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