Discover the CEO of YOU™ – Assemble Your Employees

Building a practice is a lot like constructing a house. There are many parts that need to come together to create the final product, and you’ll need different experts to help assemble those pieces. Each specialist contributes to turning your vision into reality. In your practice, as the CEO, it’s no different. You need a strong team to help make your dreams come true.

One of the biggest challenges of being a CEO is assembling that team and finding the right employees. Sometimes hiring feels like a gamble—you might get lucky, or it might not work out. While there isn’t a foolproof formula for perfect hiring, here are five strategies to help you avoid common pitfalls and build a winning team.

1. Define Your MVP (Mission, Vision, and Purpose)

If you don’t know what you want or where you’re headed, no one else can help you get there. The first step is to clearly define your MVP—your Mission, Vision, and Purpose. This clarity will help you set boundaries in your practice. These boundaries will not only guide your business decisions but also help you identify the right employees to hire and keep. When you know what’s most important to you, it’s easier to attract people who align with your values and goals.

2. Hire for Heart, Train for Skills

Skills can be taught, but heart and passion come from within. When building your team, look beyond just the resume. Focus on hiring people with the right attitude, work ethic, and passion for growth. How do they communicate? What drives them? Do they value learning and skill development?

I always ask myself if I can envision someone growing with my practice in the long term. Highly skilled employees are important, but hiring someone with a great attitude and willingness to learn is often more valuable in the long run.

3. Set Clear and Realistic Expectations

Clear communication is key to avoiding misunderstandings. From the start, make sure your expectations for the role are grounded in reality and communicated effectively. Unspoken or unclear expectations can lead to frustration for both you and your employees.

Before you even review resumes, set expectations in the job posting by including key responsibilities, necessary qualifications, and desired skills. Once you hire someone, keep expectations clear through ongoing feedback. Well-defined goals and responsibilities ensure that everyone knows what’s expected, fostering accountability and setting your team up for success.

4. Mentor, Empower, and Care

Investing in your employees is essential to their growth and your practice’s success. Mentor them through regular training and empower them by allowing room for mistakes and learning opportunities.

Remember, your employees are people first, and showing genuine care for them goes a long way. Employees who feel valued and appreciated are more likely to stay loyal, be productive, and go above and beyond for your practice. Create an environment that fosters growth, both professionally and personally.

5. Celebrate, Don’t Tolerate

Positive reinforcement is one of the best ways to create a motivated and engaged team. Celebrate the good behavior and accomplishments of your employees, but be mindful not to tolerate negativity or mediocrity. Toxic behavior can spread and hurt your practice, so it’s important to address it promptly.

Recognizing and rewarding positive contributions will not only boost morale but also encourage your team to continue delivering their best work. However, don’t be afraid to remove team members who consistently underperform or disrupt the workplace. Hope isn’t a strategy—waiting for improvement when it’s clear the fit isn’t right can harm your practice in the long run.

In Conclusion

Building a great team starts with love—love for what you do and love for what your team brings to the table. A successful team is led by someone who can adapt their leadership style to the needs of each member, maximizing strengths and filling in for weaker areas.

Next week, I’ll be talking about the role of vendors as your free consultants—stay tuned!

Take a moment to reflect on your team. Are they pushing you to grow and helping you achieve your goals? If not, we’d love to help you get on the right track.

For more insights on building a winning team, visit OptometryDivas.com/Join and sign up for our CEO of YOU™ business coaching!

Until next time, remember to dream big, take risks, and become the CEO of YOU™!