When Mahatma Gandhi said we should be the change we want to see in the world, he was on to something monumental. This phrase can be taken to heart not only in everyday life, but when running a successful chiropractic practice as well. By cultivating a change from an average practice to one that is overwhelmingly positive in all aspects of its operation, you provide an optimistic foundation on which to build upon. Creating a positive culture affects your satisfaction in your chosen occupation and helps you generate a healthy and positivity-inducing revenue flow. And let’s not forget how it affects your staff and your patients. Take a look at how you can gain big benefits by building positivity into your practice.
Fuel Your Own Inspiration
To inspire others, you must also inspire yourself. No matter how much you love what you do, monotony can overcome you at times, weighing on an otherwise positive attitude. Allow yourself time to regroup, re-inspire yourself, and refresh your enthusiasm. Make sure you maintain a balance between personal life and the office, and seek inspiration both outside of your practice walls as well as within. Reach out to peers and build a support network you can count on to lift you up during those inevitable times when you’re experiencing a bit of a dip in your enthusiasm.
Many recent studies have shown that the simple act of accounting for your gratitude can create a positive impact on your overall happiness.
Whether it’s first thing in the morning or last thing before you close your practice doors, take a few minutes of mindfulness to remind yourself how fortunate you are to be working in your chosen field. Remind yourself (and your staff) how you’ve helped make a positive impact on your patients each day. Count your blessings, thank someone for their assistance, and remind yourself of the small joys in your day, whether it be a good cup of coffee or a kind word.
Building Positivity into Your Support Staff
Take the time to check in with each employee and get to know them as people, not simply functions of your practice. Just a little bit of personal attention can help build a lasting relationship that can positively affect your practice. Keeping your employees smiling and satisfied in their positions helps them carry this positivity into their interactions with your patients.
Help staff members feel like they are heard and their contributions are valuable by encouraging open discussions, scheduling problem-solving sessions, and praising them for their active and open participation in making the practice run more smoothly. When you can, work team-building exercises into your days and encourage staff members to thank each other for good deeds.
Pass the Positivity on to Your Patients
Optimism can make an enormous difference in a person’s life. It can help them in their relationships, their health, and their overall sense of well-being. According to a study by the American Heart Association, patients with a positive outlook were more likely to live longer and healthier lives. According to the Mayo Clinic, positive thinking helps with stress reduction and stress management, and improves overall health. So if you’re in the business of increasing the health and wellness of your patients, promoting positivity directly supports your efforts.
Positive thinking doesn’t mean ignoring life’s challenges, it just means trying to find a way to address those challenges in a positive manner. The benefits of infusing this positive attitude into every interaction with your patients can help them increase their lifespans, lower their chance of depression, boost their immune system, and help them cope better with the curveballs that life can throw at them from time to time.
Positivity can have measurably beneficial effects on the health of your patients, the success of your practice, and the cohesiveness of your team. And reaping the benefits requires only the simple tasks of opening up communication with your staff, imparting positivity in your patient interactions, and taking the time you need to be grateful for all that you have, and all you have created.
