Fortunately, it’s not too late. You have a whole week to show your appreciation for the dental assistants in your office.
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Remember — your employees perform better and are more likely to go the extra mile when they feel appreciated. Recognizing their efforts boosts morale and encourages team unity, and these are things that make your office a better place to be and a more efficient practice.
Take the time and effort to recognize the dental assistants in your office and everyone will benefit. Here are a few tips for celebrating Dental Assistant Recognition Week.
1. Make your appreciation visible
Go for flowers, balloons, and/or a banner across or behind the front desk. Recognition that is visible to everyone will make your dental assistants feel especially appreciated. It’s also a great way to set the tone for a week of recognition. If it’s visible and obvious enough, even your patients will get into the spirit. Appreciating your dental assistants has the added benefit of improving patient satisfaction. Everyone loves a good dental assistant!
2. Make your appreciation personal
Single out each assistant and thank them for something they personally contribute to the practice. Take time to pull them aside and address them individually to let them know that you appreciate what they do. This doesn’t need to be a scheduled event, just a moment of one-on-one conversation. If you aren’t good on the spot, write a thank you note.
Not only will this make them feel like your recognition and appreciation is genuine, it will also help you. It can be easy to get swept up in the Big Office Picture, so step back and think about the things you appreciate about your assistants. Just a word of gratitude can go a long way.
3. Make your appreciation a celebration
Take an hour out of the week for everyone to step out of their formal roles and laugh together. Bring in lunch for the team. Have everyone wear party hats. Get a cake (or go with a healthier option). Throw confetti on the desk. Make a toast to the dental assistants and let them know that you couldn’t do it without them.
4. Make your appreciation tangible
It doesn’t have to be much, but this is a good time to spend a little cash to show the dental assistants their importance. They are a critical part of any dental team, and they have a huge impact on patient experience. Unless you have time and great ideas for individual gifts, go with gift cards.
5. Make your appreciation a conscious thought
Even if you don’t do something every day, recognize the assistants all week long. Give them a grin and a, “Have I mentioned how great you are yet today?” every few hours. Add, “Oh… and Happy Dental Assistant Recognition Week!” at the end of random interactions during the day.
What’s my favorite idea? Grab a card for every day they work this week. It doesn’t have to be fancy; you can even make your own (the worse you are at making cards, the more they will get a kick out of it). Every day, write one thing you appreciate about them. They’ll arrive at the office looking forward to the next card.
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Celebrate Dental Assistant Recognition Week. Your assistants will feel recognized, appreciated, and even more motivated to be the kind of assistant that deserves your praise!
