As you know, your Chiropractic Assistant plays an ever-increasing role in the success of your practice. Your CAs are not only masters at administrative work; they have interpersonal relationship, communication, education, inspiration and problem-solving skills to name a few.
The leverage that you gain through your CA team contributes significantly to your prosperity and your freedom.
The power of a group of people with a common vision is massive. Many stories are told of the ingenuity of groups of people overcoming incredible odds. One such story that comes to mind became the basis for the classic 1963 movie, “The Great Escape.”
At this German concentration camp the goal was huge. The prisoners organised themselves around the collective goal of freeing 250 soldiers in one night.
The success of this ambitious undertaking was up to the degree that they could muster the team to do their role collectively without a slip-up. Groups of prisoners had to engineer and dig tunnels, build supports from wooden slats, dispose of dirt, create bellows to pump air into the tunnels, and light the tunnels.
According to one list, the supplies included 4,000 bed slats, 1,370 battens, 1,699 blankets, 52 long tables, 1,219 knives, 30 shovels, 600 feet of rope and 1,000 feet of electric wire. How was it possible for them to secure these articles without the guards’ being aware was nothing short of miraculous?
In addition to finding materials for the tunnels, each escapee would need civilian clothes, German papers, identity cards, maps, homemade compasses and emergency rations.
Everyone had a job, from tailors to pickpockets to forgers. There were even teams that specialised in distracting the German soldiers.
“It demanded the concentrated devotion and vigilance of more than 600 men – every single one of them, every minute, every hour, every day and every night for more than one year,” John Sturges, who directed the movie account, once said. “Never has the human capacity been stretched to such incredible lengths or shown such determination and such courage.”
This mission didn’t just rely on the cooperation between the soldiers. It demanded that there was an intense and intimate collaboration between the team.
There’s a big difference between cooperation and collaboration.
Cooperation is working together harmoniously. The team all gets along. They agree with each other. Cooperation is a powerful way for any team to function but it has a sense of passiveness that goes with it – a sort of blurring at the edges.
Collaboration only the other hand speaks to a much more dynamic approach to getting things done. Collaboration involves individuals working together aggressively. There is a world of difference between the two.
Collaborative teams have 4 key characteristics that are worthy of consideration when it comes to your team of CAs.
1. Purpose.
Having a strong and cohesive purpose and vision that everyone on the team buys into. A collaborative team player concentrates on the team, not himself or herself. Cavett Roberts said this way: “True progress in any field is a relay race and not a single event”. This was so evident in the ‘Great Escape’ story as all the soldiers pulled as one for a common purpose.
2. Knowledge.
Being able to enrol an individual’s specialised knowledge and experience base is critical. Honouring the unique talents of all individual team members and placing them in the relevant roles that use those talents is an essential part of the collaborative team design
3. Support.
An effective team is built on trust. When people trust each other they work more synergistically. They will treat each other with respect. They will communicate cleanly and clearly.
4. Results.
The collective focus on results gives a finely tuned team. Making sure that the goals are clearly defined and frequently rewarded and celebrated when achieved enhances collaboration and increases the opportunity for success.
There is another step beyond collaborate that you may like to consider. This is what we have termed comperate. Being a combination of cooperate and competition, the comperating team is one that is constantly expecting more of themselves and others. This team is raising the bar and reinventing themselves in every way every day.
When you’re in a comperating team it is proactive (some may say aggressive) and it’s certainly not passively agreeable. But it accomplishes stuff that mere cooperation would never achieve.
Do your CAs have what it takes to assist in bringing your practice to the next level? Can you count on them to take the individual initiatives necessary to accelerate your practice’s success? You may have identified some areas in your practice team where things aren’t as good as they could be – where you are tolerating less than ideal outcomes. Or you have a dynamic team and want to further enhance their performance and productivity.
One thing is for sure though and that is that having a team that goes beyond cooperation is a sure way to help your practice grow. Do the FREE CA Questionnaire and we will give you a FREE 30 minute CA Evaluation to identify 4 areas that you can work on to enhance your team.
