Most optometry practices have months when the schedule is not bursting at the seams. This can be discouraging and stressful, or it can be beneficial and rejuvenating, depending how you as a leader approach it. Here are three ways to make the most of a slow schedule:
- Reflect for encouragement – Be encouraged by looking at all the the previous years’ numbers as a whole and not as a month-by-month win or loss. It’s important to remember your business will go through ups and downs. By yourself or corporately with your staff write down all the positive things that happened in the previous year. Too many times we hyper focus on what needs improvement and forget to celebrate the great things that are going on in the practice.
- Plan strategies to improve – Slow times typically are cyclical and can be scheduled. For instance, many practices experience a lull in February. Throughout the year when you have ideas that you don’t have time to act on, make a note in a folder on your hard drive. In February or some slow period, choose a few growth ideas to implement. Be careful not to freak out and throw money at random marketing schemes or other things with limited payback. Also, prepare your staff members for this by building a list of “someday maybe” tasks that they can work on when the office is slow. One thing we do is pull out the office manuals for our equipment and have staff deep clean the instruments.
- Rest to rejuvenate – Generally optometrists are high achievers which makes resting a difficult task. However, rest can be the catalyst for the business’ next breakout growth experience. Take this slow time as a blessing and spend more time at home. If you have a spouse, plan a marriage renewal trip. Visit your parents. Whatever you do, rest and relax. Hint – take two weeks if possible, it might take you up to four days to really unwind.
A slow schedule will come and go. If you plan wisely, your next slow season might not be quite so slow.
