As a great physical therapy clinician, one of the biggest dreams you may have is running your own private practice.
To do this successfully, you need to have or acquire the practice management solutions that the top 10% of practices use to steer their success. To start, great clinicians don’t automatically equal great CEOs, but with the right coaching and tools, it’s possible!
The Importance of Private Practice Leadership
Leadership is one of the most important aspects of running a successful physical therapy practice. Unfortunately, you went to PT school, not management school. For your business to grow and operate effectively, you need to work to become the business leader you have always dreamt you could be.
Good news, though: Research conducted by the University of Illinois found that leaders are made, not born. They estimated that only 30% of leadership traits are genetic, while 70% comes from life lessons and experiences.
Practice owner leadership involves communicating your business goals and purpose to your team members in a way that is clear and concise. The goal is to get them to buy-in to your strategy and play an active role in helping your practice grow.
This will require you to be proficient in communication, whether it be in a group setting, one-on-one, or through email and text. All instructions given should be heard and acknowledged – remember that transparency will help you build trust.
Strong leadership also enhances employee productivity and motivation. A Gallup poll determined that managers and leaders drive up to 70% of employee engagement. Simply put, your leadership skills – or lack thereof – can make or break your staff’s motivation!
Find a Physical Therapy Leadership Program
Since leadership skills are something that must be developed, find a physical therapy leadership program that focuses on improving the skill-sets specific to your role and your practice. It starts with providing the organizational structure and personnel management that wasn’t taught in PT school.
No one is born the perfect leader. Even if you have some experience managing others, you must take action to hone those skills and build your foundation for physical therapy leadership.
The famous quote by Jack Welch expresses this perfectly: “Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others.”
In other words, just because you are an impressive physical therapist doesn’t mean you will be able to successfully run the system of operations, structure and personnel that make a practice thrive. Investing in practice management training can make all the difference and give you the chance to develop the skills you need to lead your team.
Take the PT Owner Leadership Challenge Now
So, what can you do to improve your physical therapy leadership right now?
Start with our 4 Keys to Practice Success! This program provides CEO and executive-level training that will let you identify any barriers to success – and solutions to overcome them. Owners that invest in the right leadership training can decrease their workload by 20%, while boosting revenue up to 15%!
The key is to start now. Focus on your business structure, practice environment, systems of operation, and personnel management. Don’t wait until you have five or ten years of experience to optimize your practice – get the help you need now!
