K.I.S.S my G.R.I.Ts – Acronyms for Motivation and Teamwork in the Practice
Does anyone out there remember the TV show, Alice? Flo was regularly telling Mel, the diner’s owner, “Mel, Kiss my Grits!” If you haven’t seen it (most of you probably haven’t), but need a little laughter, I recommend you look up an episode or two.
We aren’t really talking about the show, but it got your attention didn’t it?
Read on for a few acronyms to help build teamwork in your practice. I encourage you to have some fun with it and create some of your own!
Only Handle It Once (OHIO)
If there are too many people responsible, the job never gets done because everyone thinks another person is doing it.
Constant And Never-ending Improvement (CANI)
We should all strive every day to do better than we did the day before: another day, another improvement.
Just Short of Perfect (J-SOP)
Not one of us will ever fully achieve perfection, but we can all be just short of it. When completing reviews for my team, there are very few times that they receive a top rating of “5.” We explain that they should always be striving to be better.
Believe Like Trust (BLT)
You should be able to believe in, like, and trust your teammates…. just like a good BLT! 🙂
Determination Enthusiasm Perseverance (DEP)
Never give up in the pursuit of your goals!! Work toward them in earnest and aspire to see the end result.
Goals Reality Options Will (GROW)
Without a vision, the people will perish. We need to have goals set with realistic expectations for the outcome. Know the different ways to make it happen and the determination to get to the end result.
Personal Responsibility In Delivering Excellence (PRIDE)
Each of us is accountable for providing amazing care and giving our patients an experience that they will remember. “People will forget what you say, but they will never forget how you made them feel.”
Together Everyone Achieves More (TEAM)
Working together in a synergistic mindset — the 1+1=3 mentality — we can solve anything and reach any goal that we set out to obtain.
What’s In It For Me? (WIIFM)
At the end of the day, it takes the team to make our day come together. However, individuals within the team want to know what the gain will be for them as well.
Keep It Stupid Simple (KISS)
Yes, I changed this one up a little! Sometimes keeping goals that need to be attained literally stupid-simple works the best in principle. The world of dentistry as we know it is constantly changing and so are the ways that we practice. The acronyms above are simple and the definitions can be altered to fit your practice, used to cultivate your team, and build better relationships with your patients.
About the Author
Tamela Jones, FAADOM is the Practice Administrator at Compass Dental Services in Springfield Missouri. She began her career in dentistry in December 1989. Tamela is a lifetime AADOM member and earned her Fellowship (FAADOM) designation in 2019. She is currently pursuing her Mastership, (MAADOM) designation, and is on track to be inducted in 2022.
Tamela is a Missouri native but loves to visit new places. When she is not in the office, she enjoys farming with her husband of ten years. She and her husband share four children and most recently became grandparents to Ryker who just turned one and is the light of their lives.
