Self Actualization
Self-actualization allows an employee to "Be all that you can be."
The high school girl you hired as a file clerk does not want to remain in the chart room forever.
She would like to advance to a position that provides for increased income, responsibility, and skills. Suggestions for inspiring staff to advance to a higher level include:
Encourage advancement
When filling an entry-level position, inform the new employee this is an entry-level position and hope that he/she advances to higher levels of responsibility and salary. Point out other staff members that have advanced since their hiring. Give the new staff member a goal to strive for.
Promote from within
When an advanced level position becomes available, avoid the urge to place an ad in the classified section. Look within the current staff for a replacement. Promoting existing staff has several advantages over hiring new staff. The personality, reliability, and honesty are known factors with an existing staff member. New employees often fail to live up to their resumes and letters of recommendations. Teaching new skills to an existing staff member that is familiar with office policies and traditions are simpler than teaching a new employee both new skills and office etiquette. Most important, by promoting a current staff member you motivate that person to perform at an even higher level.
Delegate responsibility
Delegating responsibility to staff allows them to learn new skills and makes for a more interesting job. A side benefit is that it reduces stress on the dentist and upper level employees by allowing them to perform more productive duties.
Continuous training - refining current and learning new skills
Refining current skills and learning new ones, even without formal promotion, motivates an employee. It makes their job more interesting and more productive for the office. The better trained a staff member is, the easier it is to move that person into another position should the need arise.
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