Tis’ the season for spreading good cheer! It’s almost Christmas, but that doesn’t mean you have to wait until Christmas day to spread joy and happiness to those around you. Spreading cheer doesn’t always have to mean presents and cash. In fact, it doesn’t have to cost much money at all but could have a significant impact on your team. So today on our blog, Bryant Consultants shares five ways to spread good cheer in your dental practice this holiday season.
- Allow team members to wear holiday hats and tops (shirts or sweaters) from now until December 31st
Most of you probably are familiar with Ugly Christmas sweaters, but that’s not exactly what we’re talking about here, but feel free to have an Ugly Christmas sweater contest if you’d like. Wearing holiday attire can help get team members in the mood for the holidays. It can also be a conversation piece between patients, helping them feel at ease during their appointment. Patients will also get a sense that your practice is a good place to work, and it’s ok that your team members have a little fun. But there’s a catch! You can’t just announce that holiday attire is allowed and not play along yourself. Team members follow by example. So, doctors (yes, YOU!) Get in the spirit and wear your favorite Christmas or holiday attire for the rest of the month to help get your team on board, too.
- Have a gingerbread house challenge
Assembling and decorating gingerbread houses can be a fun activity among team members. You can even have a contest and give out small prizes for the best or most creatively decorated gingerbread house. Even better, display your team’s creations upfront and allow patients to vote on their favorite. Another idea is to post photos of each one on your social media outlets and let patients vote that way, too. Feel free to purchase premade houses or kits at your local grocery store or Wal-Mart, or Target. Just block off a lunch hour to spend together decorating, and remember to take pictures to use for social media, even if you don’t have a contest.
- Sponsor an Angel Tree
Looking for something you can do outside of your practice? Sponsor an Angel Tree and get your team together to pick out some gifts for the child that you sponsor. This is a great idea for interacting as a team outside the practice while fostering community engagement. You can donate the gifts as a company, plus it’s a tax write-off. We recommend determining your budget before you shop since the practice will be paying for the gifts. However, you can allow team members to bring a gift or contribute as well, but that is not required.
Decide which day will work best, or if you want to block off an extended lunch hour. Every team member should be included, but let them know ahead of time so that they can plan their lunch for that day. Another consideration is to have lunch out or stop by the food court where you shop and treat your team members to lunch. Afterward, do your shopping together, and take the gifts back to the practice to wrap and decorate before dropping them off at the Angel Tree center.
- Make a fun Christmas carol video for social media at a morning huddle or lunchtime as a team
Patients love to see you and your team, but they love seeing you act like a real person, not just a doctor, an office manager, assistant, or hygienist, all of the time. So, have fun with this one! Using a smartphone, record you and your team singing a Christmas tune or make a holiday TikTok video to post on social media. You could also explore the idea of sending an e-card via email to all of your patients. Imagine their surprise to click and view a funny but joyful Christmas video from you and your team! However, remember your patient base and team members, as not everyone celebrates holidays in the same manner. For instance, you might want to choose a “secular” song instead of a religious one, depending on your patient base.
- Send holiday cards to your specialists, third-party vendors, and special people that supported your business throughout the year
This is a great time of year to thank and update people who have supported your practice throughout 2021. You can also include updates on new services or technologies your practice offers. Let these people know how your practice is changing in 2022. Maybe you’re offering amenities like hot towels, neck pillows, or updating and redecorating your practice – let them know! You could also email this information out in a newsletter to your patients to keep them updated as well.
Dental Practice Consulting
The year is almost to an end, and 2022 is just around the corner. It’s a joyful time of year, so spread some holiday cheer to those who support your practice from your team members, patients, and others in your community. If you haven’t started planning how you want your practice to grow next year, get started today by contacting Bryant Consultants at (877) 768-4799. Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
