Stop doing this in your practice!

Episode 5:

Over the years, through my mentoring program and the Smart with Heart Mastermind, not to mention The Connection membership for allied health practice owners, I’ve seen a pattern. It’s like a silent alarm that goes off, and I can hear it in the voices of practice owners. They don’t see it themselves, but I do, and I want to help you understand it as well.

Let me paint you a picture with a story from about eight or nine years ago. My practice was going through a rough patch – not quite a full-blown storm, but definitely some choppy waters ahead. Our Profit and Loss weren’t looking great, cash flow was tight, and I felt that all-too-familiar financial angst creeping in.

I noticed our diary wasn’t as packed as before, and the way we were talking to clients about rebooking just wasn’t cutting it. Despite addressing it with my team, nothing changed. That’s when I reached out to Fran – shout out to her for being amazing – hoping she could help my team get comfortable with rebooking since it’s crucial for both client outcomes and our bottom line.

After spilling my concerns to Fran over Zoom, she hit me with a truth bomb: “Amy, you are vomiting fear onto your team.” At first, I was taken aback, but then it clicked. She was right. I was letting my fear spill over, and it was affecting everyone.

This is what I want to dive into today. This ‘vomiting fear’ often shows up disguised as pushing for billable hours or getting defensive with feedback. It can make us intolerant of small issues or lead us to hastily try to fix big ones. It creates a sense of urgency that unsettles the team and can come across as blame rather than leadership.

When we’re fearful, we might react to staff retention concerns or become overly critical of minor things. We might call urgent meetings that throw everyone off balance. But it’s important to remember, not every urgent meeting is a fear response; there’s a fine line between efficiency and panic.

The fallout from this fear can be confusion, uncertainty, and resentment among the team. It can make them feel unvalued, which is the last thing any of us want. So, it’s crucial to recognize these fear triggers and address them proactively.

For me, tracking finances, understanding cancellation rates, and measuring staff culture are key to steering clear of those stormy seas. It’s about knowing what really scares you. In my case, it was the fear of damaging our brand and reputation, not the surface-level issues like diary bookings.

Once you pinpoint your fears, you can start to manage your language and approach with your team more effectively. It’s about stopping, taking a breath, and connecting with your team where they’re at, breaking down assumptions, and rewriting the narrative together.

I learned to focus on communication with clients, comfort with billing, and the value we bring to our clients. Thanks to Fran’s advice, I shifted from dictating to discussing, which helped uncover fears within my team too. Together, we made plans to move forward.

So, if you’ve ever found yourself in a similar boat, know that you’re not alone. It’s about identifying your fears, how they manifest, and finding better ways to tackle them without spreading panic.

Feel free to reach out if you’ve experienced this or have thoughts to share. You can reach me at hello@theconnectionco.com.au.