How to pick your practice-management coach
By Heidi Farrell

A practice-management company can help take your practice to new heights. Because the company becomes part of your practice’s team, it’s important to make a careful decision about whom to hire.

Find a coach and coaching team with whom you make a connection. Once that occurs, you know you are on the right road. Now you must begin the journey.

To “feel” a connection is one thing, but to make a more objective decision, here are a few things to consider as you determine the best fit for your practice:

1. Accountability. A good management team holds you accountable. Not just you, the doctor, but “you,” the “team.”

Your success doesn’t happen alone; your team is deeply involved, and they need as much accountability to training, tasks, and marketing as you do. Make sure your choice in organizations has a clear plan for how it will hold you accountable.

Questions to consider: What will happen when you don’t do what you say you will do? What checks and balances, tools, and systems are available for your coaching sessions to align your thoughts with their answers?

2. Inspiration. No one can motivate you; that is something you must do yourself. If you can’t, then nothing will work. However, a good coach can inspire you to see the best options, look at things differently, and step forward when normally you would step back or step down. 

Questions to consider: Does the coach inspire you when you are in conversation? Do you complete a coaching session or leave a seminar ready for the next step, or do you feel more confused and unsure of how to best achieve your goals?

3. Team empowerment and training. The best coaching relationship involves you and your team.

Your goal, after all, should be to create an “A” team. You must supply the right training for your CAs to ensure empowered results.

Questions to consider: How will your coaches include the team? What are their recommendations for a team training schedule? What tools can they provide to support you and your team in your efforts? Do they have a special chiropractic-assistant training program?

4. A one-on-one experience. When you hire a coach, undoubtedly he or she will have other clients, but the goal is for you to always feel as if you are the coach’s only concern.

Question to consider: What systems are in place to ensure you receive a one-on-one experience?

5. Services provided. What will you get for your money? Explore the available services before you enter into any agreement, so you are not disappointed and disillusioned.

Questions to consider: How often will you have contact with your coach? Will you have access to a Web site that has tools and additional information available only to members? What types of seminars are included for your fees — seminars only for you or for your CAs? Will you receive forms, tools, and systems with step-by-step information, or must you purchase additional products to implement recommendations?

6. Goals, strategies, and plans. How often have you heard the phrase, “No plan is a plan to fail”?

A good coaching team helps create your goals, strategies, and plans.

It’s not easy to see through the day-to-day stuff that clouds your view of the bigger picture. You must have a training plan, marketing plan, short-term goals, long-term goals, and action steps.

Question to consider: How will your coach help put your strategies into action?

Choosing your practice-management partner is not an easy decision. But when the right coach hooks up with the right doctor and team, fireworks happen. Make the right choice and you are sure to achieve success — in your life and your practice.

Heidi Farrell is the founder and head coach of Chiro Advance Services. She can be reached at 715-635-5211, by e-mail at heidi@chiroadvance.com, or through the Web site, www.chiroadvance.com.