Having a powerful team around you is crucial to your success. When people come together as a team, share a dream, and focus on reaching their goals together, there’s a good chance they’ll accomplish what they set out to do.

It is much more enjoyable to have a great team when you feel that they are all contributing to the practice’s success.

Your patients can feel when your team is “on,” just as they can also sense when your team is having issues.

Here are some important qualities of a powerful team:

1. They share core values. These shared values establish the team’s culture, conduct, rules, and policies. Without shared values, such as accountability, integrity, respect, and commitment, peak performance isn’t possible.

Take some time with your team to find out what your shared values are. Are they the focal point of your team? The best time to do this is at your team training meetings, which should be conducted regularly.

2. They put team first. Sacrificing individual gain for the team’s greater good is the price of admission that members must pay and keep paying to be on the team.

Personal recognition, interpersonal concerns, relationships, and any number of internal and external issues can challenge a team’s cohesiveness and should be put into proper perspective. Whenever conflicts occur, they must be dealt with directly, openly, and honestly without delay.

Most importantly, they must be resolved to the satisfaction of the entire team. How is conflict dealt with on your team? How are group dynamics affecting team performance? Criticize team members in private and praise in public.

3. Teamwork isn’t a part-time activity. Make sure your team is aware of this when they are representing you in the community.

Teach your team members how to educate others about chiropractic. They should be able to define what a subluxation is and how it causes nerve interference. They should also be able to describe what you do and how it enhances health. If they can’t, most likely your patient can’t either.

4. Walk the talk. Team leaders don’t micromanage; they empower and inspire individuals to accomplish the stated objectives.

Ultimately, leaders must take full responsibility for keeping the team focused and for accomplishing the team’s stated objectives. Effective leaders are upfront and lead by positive example. Successful leaders embrace the power of teamwork by tapping into the innate strengths each person brings to the table.

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