Take Me to Your Leader: Wait, Is That Me?

Tips for avoiding employee turnover.

By Mike Connors, PT, DPT, PhD

If your private practice is experiencing high employee turnover, check these guidelines for areas you may need to work on in order to improve retention.

1. Have a clear vision.
   Employees want to know what their company’s vision is, what they are working for, and where the company is moving as an organization. The company’s vision, or mission statement, should provide a road map to the future.
2. Live your mission
   Your company mission statement should be embodied in all employee and customer interactions. If you do not have a mission statement, then you should develop one quickly.
3. Don’t micromanage
   No one likes to be micromanaged. Hire for success. Highlight expectations and reinforce accountability. Let loose on the reins and then watch what happens.
4. Offer opportunities for development
   Many employees want to know how they can grow with your company. Offer opportunities for growth, if available, or communicate if such opportunities do not exist. Transparency about future growth can help prevent employees from developing unrealistic expectations.
5. Start with the end in mind
   You should start your company from the beginning envisioning a realistic exit strategy for your organization. Will you eventually look to sell to your loyal employees? Will you close? This is imperative to recognize and plan for as you are responsible for the future livelihood of your employees.
6. Always reflect
   Take time to reflect on a regular basis on the successes and failures of your company.
7. Walk the four corners
   Know your company. Know your employees.

Using these guidelines, a private practice owner can focus on staff expansion and growth rather than on merely replacing and surviving.

Mike Connors, PT, DPT, PhD, is a PPS member, Impact Editorial Board Member, and regional director of Greater Therapy Centers. He can be reached at jhall@gtc-pt.com.