Making sure morale in your team is high is important in the best of times. In the worst of times, like we have experienced over the past seven months, it is absolutely vital.
A happy team means a more cohesive and productive team. And when you need to begin rebuilding your practice after several months of closure, a strong, motivated, happy team is a critical part of your recovery process.
To find out more about how you can boost morale in the team, I spoke to Chris Smirthwaite, owner of The Smile Centre in Liskeard, about their approach. Below is his story:
Chris: ‘We concentrate on what I like to call ‘the 3 Cs’:
- Communication
- Community
- Chocolate
Communication
During lockdown, the most important of these has been communication. We set up three WhatsApp groups – one for our managers, one for our nurses and admin team, and one for the whole team.
It meant everyone could talk freely in their respective groups and we weren’t just talking solely, or even mainly, about work. We were just sharing what we were up to during lockdown, for instance, I was mainly talking about my shed building and vegetable growing.
Everyone was contributing to the message groups so it felt like there was a lot of support across the practice. We also had a Zoom video call once a month so that we could actually see each other and still have team meetings throughout that period.
Every week, Kerry, our Practice Manager, sends out an email which is a round-up of how the practice is faring financially, new measures we’re taking and how we are developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). For example, a team member recently had a COVID-19 test, so we realised we needed to have a SOP for what would happen if that was positive (which it wasn’t).
The whole team contributes to the SOPs and that makes everyone feel they are part of what’s going on, rather than it being something that’s imposed on them.
Community
That kind of thing is how you build and maintain the second C, community, within the practice team.
Pre-lockdown we could do this through monthly social gatherings, such as bowling nights or pizza nights, each organised by a different member of the team, and our business meetings would usually be done over a drink and meal, etc.
Obviously with the lockdown restrictions and social distancing measures that have been in place since March, we haven’t been able to do that.
Community is the thing we’ve been missing the most during lockdown as we’re no longer sitting around the table at dinnertimes or having the morning huddle anymore. To try to mitigate the impact of this, we have focused more on communication – even if it does have to be through digital means like WhatsApp and Zoom.
Establishing a strong, positive and friendly community among your team is important at all times – it makes your practice a happier place to be for both your team and your patients.
Chocolate
Now we are back in the practice, we can carry on with the final C – chocolate!
Every week I make sure that the biscuit box is filled up with chocolate biscuits, so if the team do get a tea break there is something nice to munch on.
Everybody likes chocolate, and it’s good to do something nice for your team – even if it’s just supplying them with chocolate, it is always appreciated.
And on a slightly more serious note, chocolate does increase serotonin levels – so it really does make you feel happier.
Two other Cs
I have also been contemplating lately that there could be two more Cs to add to this list.
‘Charity’ is a great way of boosting morale – everyone pulling together to do something for charity always helps to bond them together, and, of course, makes you feel good.
And, of course – Cornwall! Being in Cornwall always makes you feel more positive!
