Dental Practices: How to Promote Virtual Togetherness and Philanthroship During COVID-19!
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“Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much” – Helen Keller
One of the worst things a practice leader can do right now is isolate themselves from their team and patients. Utilize this list to create initiatives during closure to encompass the feelings of togetherness and philanthroship.
Document via pictures and story-telling on your practice’s Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and website blog (just to name a few). Patients will feel more connected to your practice than ever before.
Ready to “make lemonade out of lemons”?
Donate supplies to unopened boxes of gloves, masks, cotton swabs to your local hospital. Your margin may be thin, non-existent or negative at this point. However a small monetary amount donated in supplies will give back to the world and your practice more than you could imagine. Take a picture with a hospital team member grinning ear to ear.
Donate blood. The American Red Cross is anticipating a “severe shortage of blood donations” due to school closings and work from home recommendations. The Red Cross and Memorial Blood centers state donating is safe at this time. Ask each team member to take time to visit their local Red Cross, take a thumbs up selfie with the phlebotomist and create a beautiful collage of giving back
Toilet paper challenge. Send each of your team members a gift card (e-gift or snail mail) to a local retailer with instructions to purchase toilet paper and drop off to a resident of an independent senior living facility. Reduce exposure by not “meeting” them but rather a door drop off. Take a picture of your toilet paper with the sweet note you made for them.
Home school challenge. Team members who have children we ask that you send a picture (or better yet) a video of a unique way you are surviving school shut downs. Examples: unique “schedules” you are trying to follow but are failing miserably, your toddles digging in a gallon of ice cream without asking, kids still in jammies at 4:00 pm. The more authentic the better!
TikTok dance. The more resistant you are to TikTok, the better #5 will be. Videos created by people that we are least expecting are the BEST! Create a unique dance with solo and/or with family to share with your patients/team.
Gratitude challenge. Ask each team member to send a daily text to a select contact person and create a daily gratitude list created by the team. Share and spread optimism during this time of crisis. This will positively influence all of those who participate and the virtual following that is anxiously awaiting your next move.
Virtual pizza party. It’s 2020, just because we are quarantined doesn’t mean we can’t host an office lunch! Schedule a pizza party for your team by delivering 1 pizza per team member (nothing fancy – we are on a budget!) and enjoy over a zoom call. Don’t forget to screen shot it and share with your patients! Create a unique hashtag #virtualzachallenge.
Book club. If you are a practice owner/entrepreneur chances are you have read a book that has moved you in a way you would like to pass onto others. Take this time to use good ol’ Amazon and buy each of your team members a book. Host a 1 time virtual book club via zoom to discuss main points and how it relates to the everyday life at the practice. Screenshot your giant meeting with everyone’s nose in the book!
Wellness challenges. Utilize an app that will collectively let you host wellness challenges with your team such as Wellable, Spiff or Stridekick. Enjoy a friendly competition while staying healthy so everyone can return back to work with increased energy ready to rock those full schedules!
Snail mail surprise. Dust off those blank note cards in the office and write a well wishes note to a patient, specifically those who may not have social media. Include one of the pictures from above and make their day. It is moments like these that they will never forget and will exemplify your practice’s WHY!
It is not what happens to you, it is how you respond to it. As practice leaders we have a choice and we hope yours isn’t self-isolation until the restrictions lift.
Show your patients and the world how your practice chooses virtual togetherness and philanthroship during COVID-19!
Please share your fun and creative ideas to hello@dentalconsultingco.com
About the Author // Shannon Snell
As a Dental Hygienist practicing in over 40 offices early in my career I identified a need for smooth practice operations that stemmed from employee engagement, patient care and effective leadership. After 10 years in the industry practicing as Dental Hygienist, managing a highly productive private practice, consulting with various local firms, and running one of the most successful professional staffing and recruiting companies in Minnesota I identified the dire need of a local resource to help Dentists own their practice, time and future.