The Practicon Viewpoint by Ann Page Griffin

CAN YOU HAVE FUN IN YOUR DENTAL OFFICE?

ABSOLUTELY!

Fun in the workplace is an under-utilized tool for increasing teamwork, staff motivation, patient service, and practice productivity. After all, "The team that plays together stays together."

A quote from the book FISH by Lundin, Paul, and Christensen encapsulates the concept of fun in the workplace: "We can be serious about our work without being serious about ourselves." Pleasure, enjoyment, happiness, laughter—all are positive qualities to cultivate in your dental office.

Naturally, a dental team must be serious in their dedication to making each patient feel comfortable, relaxed, and assured that they are the focus of your attention and care. At the same time, the team should feel a sense of fulfillment, professional pride, and pure enjoyment in what they are capable of doing together. A light, bright, fun ambiance in an office is a huge plus for patients, and they can sense it.

Fun becomes part of an office culture when it is intentionally planned into the routine. Consider appointing a Fun Team from among your staff members, with two or three individuals given a six month term to plan events and activities that the staff can enjoy together. After six months, let other staff members take over the role. Fun Team activities can be funded as part of the practice budget.

Suggestions for fun activities:

• Food is always a popular addition to the daily routine. Bagel breakfasts, snacks, catered lunches, after-work gatherings at local restaurants, family picnics, and birthday celebrations are just a few ways to enhance feelings of fun and togetherness.
• "Secret Pals," where coworkers draw names, keep their Pal's name a secret, and give one another small gifts or treats weekly over a period of time. A "reveal" can take place at a staff lunch when new Secret Pal names are drawn.
• Initiate an Appreciation-Gram program: make attractive Appreciation-Gram forms available in a central location, and, whenever a team member wants to express appreciation to a coworker (for any reason), the team member fills out the form and posts it on the practice bulletin board. Read the comments aloud at monthly team meetings. One team that uses this idea celebrates when a total of 50 Appreciation-Grams have been posted by treating the entire team to an enjoyable event outside the office during work hours.
• Celebrate holidays together with your patients. Dress in costume for Halloween. Give away small American flags during the week of July 4. Give every patient a small treat for Valentine's Day. The ideas are limitless.
• Include giving back to the community in your inventory of fun office activities. Consider donating free dental care for an underprivileged family. Prepare Thanksgiving food boxes for families in need, or help serve meals at a local homeless shelter. Take turns ringing the bell for the Salvation Army's Christmas Kettle fund drives. Participate in a local Meals on Wheels program once a month.

The list of enjoyable things to do as a team is endless, limited only by the Fun Team’s imagination and the available funds. Make fun times together a priority in your office and experience the heightened sense of enjoyment and pride among the dental team. It’s a WIN-WIN for all involved.

Be sure to check out our Free Resources for Your Practice for additional insights, information, and practice management tips.