Lately I've noticed one member of my staff is despondent and uncooperative. As a result, her performance is plummeting and I'm concerned that her attitude may start to affect the other employees and more importantly, the care that my patients are receiving. What should I do?
You've heard the expression, "one bad apple can spoil the whole bunch." This is so true, especially when one person has a great deal of influence over the others. My first obvious recommendation is to make serious attempts to communicate with this individual one on one to find out exactly what is troubling her. Perhaps it's a personal issue outside of the office or maybe it's as simple as altering her job description. You likely won't know if you don't ask.
Not everyone is suited for everything and it's important to find what tasks best match their personality. It's a fact that if someone enjoys what they are doing, they will do it well. Ask her, "What do you personally enjoy the most about your job?" "If you had the ability...what one thing about your job would you change that would make it better?" "How would you suggest we make that change happen?" And finally...."What would you say we could do together to make this office run more efficiently and create a better team?" If you've tried to work with this individual but have not been able to alter the outcome, then you need to start analyzing whether or not your practice is a good fit for her and consequently, if you really want to keep her on your team.
Simply stated....Attitude starts at the top, so if you want your staff, your doctors or your co-workers to be inspired, try
being
their inspiration. Compliment your own attitude by surrounding yourself with like-minded personalities and people who think as you do.
Finally, because attitude adjustment starts with your own willingness to make a change, learn from your own experiences. If something doesn't go the way you want it to . . . take hold of it, turn it around and use it constructively, so the next time the outcome is nothing less than productive. You possess the power. Which attitude will you choose?
