Don't Be Like This Boss

I am no longer working with this client anymore…
 
Recently, I was consulting with a client.  Revenue was dropping.  Morale was low, and the future of the practice was dim.  The owner had a committed leadership team who had endured years of ups and downs.  They were in for the long haul and were insanely loyal.  However, if things didn’t turn around soon, all of their futures might be in doubt.
 
To discuss the challenges and changes that needed to take place, the owner called a staff meeting.  Good call.  The team needed to be together.  Encouragement was needed.  Actionable plans were essential. 
 
Instead, the meeting was full of anger, yelling, and complaints…from the owner.  Their time culminated with the owner complaining about the cost of the upcoming Christmas party.  The meeting came to a close.  The owner left declaring it a helpful time together, and the staff sat alone in the room, in silence, starting at each other. 
 
With a list of new to-do’s accompanied with the threat of losing their jobs, they slogged back to work, eager for the week to end.  Many of the long time faithful considered quitting.  Some wondered if making less money was worth it.  Most updated their resumes.  They eventually turned out the lights and went home.
 
I doubt that many of you reading this are like this owner.  More than likely, more of you have been the abused staff than the abusing manager.  Either way, think about the impact of this moment on the staff.
 
The future of the practice is at stake.  The staff is being threatened.
A calm, steady hand of leadership is needed.  The owner is yelling.
The Christmas event that every one looks forward to?  The owner begrudges paying for it.
 
This isn’t my usual post.  It doesn’t end with “3 Tips How Not to Be This Owner”.  Please consider what leadership looks like in struggling times.  Consider how you like to be led.  If you need to vent or go off, don’t put that burden on your staff. 
 
Calm, confident, steady leadership is what every business, and even family, needs to guide others through tumultuous times.
 
Gordon Duncan is the CEO/Consultant of ProSight Success.  He has worked in the eye care industry for nearly 20 years.  He has consulted in the medical field, manufacturing, accounting, and many other disciplines. 
 
Here are a few our deals to check out.
 
ProSight offers resources to put you back in control of your practice.  
 
P.S. ProSight Success has a 7 volume playbook to put all of these things in place.  In fact, we recently published this system in paperback.  It has been called the “Optometric Textbook for the 21st Century”.  Typically, this resource costs $199, but in light of seeing another practice fatality, I have cut its cost 50%.   From now until the end of the year, you can purchase the ProSight Success System in paperback for $100.  This 2 lb. (over 300 pages of resources) playbook has been #1 in 7 different countries, and it’s the step by step process that the doctor above walked through.  ​ 

​P.S.S.  If you can’t afford these investments, ProSight offers a free e-book to get you started.  Just go to www.profitableeyecare.com to get your copy

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