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Chronic (not even chronic) lateness with Employees

Why are we dentists tolerating this crap!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Make a statement in your office:

• If you’re early, you’re on time
• If you’re on time, you’re late
• If you’re late, you’re lost!

Now this all precludes that WE ARE EARLY……..as the team is watching us and we must behave as the model for their subsequent behavior.  So, no excuses for you doctor to “pull rank” and to be late as the doctor and expect the team to be on time.

Now some of you might not agree with this assessment as we dentists will do all we can to AVOID conflict.  However, it’s costing us money.  Read this article from The New York Times on lateness.

Now if you want to download a simple announcment form for your team that will create clear boundaries around this issue of lateness, click on Dr. Fred Hecht’s “lateness” protocol.  Dr. Fred has drawn the line on the issue to not being at work on time.  I challenge you to do the same.

So here are some Coaching questions to get you in action:

1. How long will you put up with “tardiness” from your team…even 5 minutes every day at the beginning of the day? (Oh, that’s not really a problem you say…oh contraire doctor.  It is a morale “killer”.)
2. What will it take for you to discover that being on time makes the difference between profitability and not?  (Study your financials)
3. On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being ALWAYS on time, how prompt are you every day? (Less than 10 may as well be a 1)
4. What will it take for you to FIRE a chronically and habitually late employee…..oh ya, I know, “she’s really a great hygienist; or she is a wonderful person; she stays late; or she has child care issues”.  All excuses for showing up on time!

Dr. Ron is the only Master Certified Dental Coach (MCC) on the planet. He has blended 20 years of clinical dental practice with executive roles in financial planning and investment management along his graduate business training to provide his clients with the tools, support, and accountability to accomplish more. About Dr. Ron, "I count you as one of life’s best finds", says Dr. Gary Imm of Reisterstown, Maryland. He has authored many articles; manuals; ThinBooks ^tm; TeleClasses and if you visit http://www.drarndt.com you can receive one of his FREE reports, "9 Painful Mistakes Dentists Make in the Hiring Process"

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