5 Ways to Step Up Your Practice Performance
Updated: Dec 30, 2023
The ongoing success of your veterinary practice depends on your ability to achieve positive, sustainable performance results even through times of economic downturn. Is your practice underperforming? Are the numbers just not adding up? Has growth declined or hit an all-time low? If you are struggling to remain competitive and keep your head above water, you’re not alone. More importantly, there are things you can start doing today that will begin to turn things around for the better. Let’s take a look at 5 quick tips to help you step up your practice performance, get more clients and grow your profits.
Define, Review and Renew Your Practice Mission
Chances are every single member of your team entered the veterinary field because of their love for animals, so don’t let them lose sight of that. Define the mission of your practice – what matters, why you do what you do, what you strive to accomplish on a daily, weekly, monthly, annual basis, etc. And remember to regularly remind your staff of this mission to help keep the passion alive.
Listen to Your Clients
Your clients are the lifeblood of your practice and the reason you have any profits to speak of, so make their voice a priority. Invite feedback and welcome their questions and concerns. Show them that their opinions and feelings matter. Make that personal connection that is so important in achieving client retention and getting more word-of-mouth referrals. Finally, be open and willing to make any necessary changes to improve the client experience.
Evaluate Your Current Position
If your practice is consistently failing to produce positive results, it could very well be due to a problem with your internal operations; whether it’s a toxic staff member or a certain policy you have in place. Take a step back and conduct a thorough review of how each facet of your practice is currently running. Identify areas where improvements can and should be made, up to and including making difficult staffing decisions. Remember, sometimes you have to prune back to achieve healthy growth.
Focus On Culture
You can’t expect clients to keep coming back or recommend your services to their friends and family if your team isn’t running like a well-oiled machine. This often requires a conscious and active effort to define and create a positive, productive and harmonious culture. Make things like communication, honesty and respect core characteristics that all of your staff members must exhibit and keep these in mind when hiring new employees as well.
Work On, not Just In, Your Practice
Many highly skilled veterinary practice owners make the common mistake of focusing all of most of their efforts working in the day to day operations of their business instead of working on its growth and ongoing profitability. While your first love may very well be working with patients, if you’re not doing the things necessary to improve your business, you’ll never move forward. Make a decision – either commit time and energy into the tasks necessary to further your business, or hire someone who will handle this for you.
If you’ve done all of these things and you’re still not seeing the results you’re after, it may be time to enlist the help of a professional. Our experienced, knowledgeable Practice Growth Specialists focus solely on helping veterinary clinics achieve growth and success beyond their wildest dreams. We’d love to help you do the same. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Our Tips, Tricks, and Expert Advice
How can you get more clients and grow your profits?
You can attract more clients and increase profits by listening to your clients, improving their experience, and focusing on a positive culture.
Why is it important to evaluate your current position?
Evaluating your current position helps identify areas for improvement and allows for strategic decision-making to enhance practice performance.
What characteristics should your staff members exhibit?
Staff members should exhibit communication, honesty, respect, and a commitment to the practice's mission and values.
Want more practice management tips and tricks? Bookmark the DVMelite blog and check back often for fresh, relevant content.
