How to Boost Office Morale in the Coronavirus Pandemic

Talking through masks, empty waiting rooms, and an eerily quiet dental practice shouldn’t feel normal to any of us. As dentists and dental team members who are passionate about people and their oral health, the restrictions and consequence of the coronavirus pandemic have really put a damper on the day-to-day experience.

Our goal is to help you find creative and effective ways to create a positive environment for your dental team members and patients during this strange time.

1. Remember the mission

Every dentist office needs a mission statement. The goal of a mission statement is to create an effective and profitable dental practice that works well for the dentist, dental team, and patients. Mission statement lay out the expectations of how dental team members should treat one another and patients for a harmonious work environment. It also ensures that everyone is working to the same goal.

If you don’t have a mission statement, now is the time to create one! It can be as simple as writing down your top three priorities as a dentist. You can also ask your team members for input.

2. Get creative

Along with the new stresses at work, we’re all experiencing new stresses at home. How nice would it be to walk into your office in the morning and find your favorite snack and a coffee sitting on your desk? How special would it be to receive a not or card from your team members expressing their appreciation for you?

Do those things for your staff! We guarantee you’ll see a major change in the office environment. Other ideas include:

Make a fun video for Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok together
Plan a breakfast or lunch party where everyone brings something
Place encouraging post-it notes around the office

3. Stay consistent

Consistency and stability are sources of comfort for so many. Try to maintain normalcy as much as possible. This could mean keeping the same business hours, the same staff members, and the same expectations.

As much as it is in your power, these things will keep your team and patients happy and relaxed!

4. Celebrate each other

Encouragement is essential for creating a positive work environment. Find ways to celebrate things like birthdays, work accomplishments, and personal accomplishments.

Two ways to do this are to have a place in the office where people can display their small victories or schedule this a time for people to share these in meetings. This will help you to get to know your team members even better, and be sure to share your small victories as well!

5. Encourage self-care

Being in a constant state of stress can leave you feeling tired, sad, and unhealthy. After work or on a break, be sure to do something that relieves stress and makes you feel good again. This is different for everyone, but here are some ideas to share with your dental team:

Read a book
Go for a walk
Take a bath
Listen to a podcast or your favorite music playlist
Play a boardgame with friends or family
Anything else that makes you feel good!

Each of these activities should take at least 30 minutes.

For More Tips, Call Dental Practice Enhancement

Our team at Dental Practice Enhancement is passionate about helping dentists create a positive, healthy work environment for themselves and their team members.