As practice owners, we want our practices to be booked up, and we think we need to be booked up. After all, we need to lead by example, so this should be our goal, our mission, vision, purpose, end game?
In this article, I explain why this is a fallacy, a myth.
Hi, I’m Andrew Arnold, The Practice Leverage Expert.
Most of what I teach and mentor is counter-intuitive. You can blame my mentor, Marcus Bird from the Wellness Leadership Academy for that.
What you’re rational brain thinks is logical and makes sense is usually diametrically opposite to how it actually works, energetically.
So let’s break this down.
Firstly as a practice owner, if you are always booked with patients where’s the leverage. You have created an environment where you have no room to explore working ‘ON’ your clinic, you’re entrepreneurial aspirations or where patients are dis-inclined to see others practitioners in your practice.
This is crazy. You’re just working harder and harder, micro-managing your practice and trying to be all things to everyone. If you want a holiday or are wanting to create more time for other things, being booked up should NOT be your goal!
So from a counter intuitive perspective, think about aiming for not being booked up. The more gaps in your schedule, the more opportunity to leverage YOU via your team. The more opportunity to create time to WORK ON your business, or work on other ventures, such as an online program for example.
It’s about training your patients that you have limited time and it’s ok to see another practitioner. They’ll catch on.
So if you’re patient load is reducing, this is good. You’re creating your exit plan.
Start by blocking out an hour here and there, or dropping a shift. Get your reception on board with the plan and have them encourage patients to see other practitioners.
You’ll be fine, trust me.
About the Author:
Dr. Andrew Arnold (Chiropractor) is the ‘Practice Leverage Expert’; Principal Chiropractor and owner, Cranbourne Family Chiropractic and Wellness Centre; Business Consultant; Founder, Million Dollar Wellness Practice. Andrew is married to Dr. Linda Wilson, the Stress Specialist and has two children, Isaac and Bella. He lives in Melbourne, Australia.