Lastly, HOW do you build a team?
As therapists like to say, it’s a process. This is obviously a huge topic that I can't fully flesh out in this course, but I want to share a couple important things I have learned.
The reality is that none of us are running venture backed start-up companies, so we are not hiring 25 people at a time.
In fact, our greatest challenge is that we wait too long to get help and hire for the most important roles.
There are so many things that go into hiring, leading and managing a successful team. I have learned an incredible amount in just the past three years of being a group practice owner and I am still constantly learning.
At this point I have hired 21 people, both therapists and virtual assistants. I still have so much to learn, but it is getting quite a bit easier.
Here are a few things that ring true for me.
- Hire slow, fire fast - not out of desperation or fuzzy feelings
- Hire people who are humble, hungry & smart (emotional intelligence)
- Always trust your intuition - Heck yes, heck no
- Work with people who share your vision / goals align / win-win situation
- Work with service providers who have the heart of a teacher, not just a salesperson
My Values
I have a few simple values and they apply to my group practice as well as The Productive Therapist. You might see some of my teen therapist side coming out here.
- Talk to me bro! - clear communication is a must
- Save the drama for your mama! - avoid unnecessary conflict & people who create it
- Under promise, over deliver - follow through is key, surprise and delight
Here are a few recommendations that have been tremendously helpful for me.
- Zoey Holguin from The Therapist Leader
- Katie Vernoy from Evolve To Thrive Consulting
- Radical Candor: Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity by Kim Scott
- The 5 dysfunctions of a team by Patrick Lencioni
- The Best Place to Work by Ron Friedman
- The Coaching Habit by Michael Stanier
Building a team is not an easy task, but it is a crucial step towards creating more profit and more time . . . and being able to leave the country!