A growing number of individuals are finding themselves called to help others and go on to fulfil this call by training to become a practitioner in one of the healing arts.
The range of conventional, traditional, holistic, complementary and alternative therapies is extensive with new thoughts on old themes being introduced almost daily. In some ways, the professional training undertaken to practice the therapy or therapies you have chosen, is the simple bit. Yes, I know there are lots of hours spent studying, lots of time dedicated to practical work, lots of supervision and lots of examinations but believe me, this was relatively easy to complete because there was some passion behind your purpose.
The fun starts when you hang up your sign and open for business. Some enlightened Professional Institutions are now including modules on practice management in their curriculum, which is a good thing. Many still don't. It doesn't matter how stunning your therapy skills are, if you have no clients to work with, your practice will not survive. You must learn how to manage cashflow, how to maximise your personal productivity, how to develop your client base and how, in due course, to appoint and manage staff.
Whether you are starting out on this path straight from school or college or whether this is a career change for you, know that practising any healing art is a wonderful offer to your community and your fellow man. I hope that my efforts to make the business side of practising your therapy "easy", will free your energy to do what you do best.
Remember that the success of any therapeutic intervention depends largely on the attitude of the therapist ? the client is greatly affected by your intention, attitude and expectation. Be impeccable, know what you are capable of achieving and always walk the talk. Set high standards for yourself, even when you are off-duty clients have expectations of you. A successful therapeutic practice depends on clients being willing to trust and refer. They will not do this if they see you doing your supermarket shopping or filling up the fuel tank of your car whilst wearing your whites. You know all of this but you will also find, if you haven't already, how easy it is to forget and lapse into easier habits!
There is nothing quite like working in your own business, calling the shots, making the decisions and knowing that the profit is all yours. There is also another side to being an entrepreneur which is carrying the risk, isolation, being the last to be paid, playing many roles some of which you feel ill-equipped to handle. I wonder, is it still sounding like such a good idea?
8 times out of 10, expertise in your field is not enough to ensure business success. In fact the more diligent you are in your technical work, the more pride you take in doing a good job, the more likely your business is to fail in the first year. In his book, "The E-Myth Revisited" Michael Gerber refers to people such as you as "The Technician". You have technical expertise in your chosen field. Every business needs technicians but problems can and often do arise when the technician gets his hand on the tiller and ends up steering the ship.
Successful businesses exchange value to customers for money. Part of this is doing a good job but there are other aspects to supplying value to clients:
The trading experience ? is it easy, pleasurable and consistent?
Follow up service ? is there any?
Product/Service ? is it what your clients want, when they want it and how they want it?
Yes, I know the technical expert within you is arguing with me as you read this. Yes, I know that receiving a wonderful treatment is important to your clients but it is only one ingredient in the recipe which produces a successful Private Practice.
Donnie Harrison is a Coach and Business mentor who specialises in working with clients who are setting up or building a Professional Private Practice, particularly in the healthcare sector - be it traditional, complementary or alternative. Further information from http://donnieharrison.com
limousine chicago serviceIn today's demanding economy, the first line of any business... Read More
Five minutes into the call I knew this client was... Read More
Traditional marketing strategies encourage business owners to continually grow their... Read More
Unless you are brand new to business, or have been... Read More
Regardless of what business you are in - you are... Read More
In a strange juxtapositioning of articles, this month's UK '... Read More
The most important aspect of a successful business is developing... Read More
The call center represents your first line of communication with... Read More
Customer service is an integral part of our job and... Read More
Do you have good customer service? Even for your free... Read More
Our challenge as the business owner/sales person answering the telephone,... Read More
A growing number of individuals are finding themselves called to... Read More
With Some Tips on How to RespondTt has probably happened... Read More
Over the last month, I have come to hate emails... Read More
I spent some twenty years in the corporate world, for... Read More
Those of us doing business over the internet have to... Read More
This may seem a strange topic to introduce. Yet, it... Read More
However, in the world of business, this clich? may not... Read More
You probably spend a great deal of your time looking... Read More
You Never Know Who You're Serving when customers turn irate.I... Read More
Looking For Ways to Improve Sales and Customer Relationships?Find Out... Read More
Two situations, two perfectly acceptable experiences, but in one case,... Read More
Why do some businesses offer points, stamps or every tenth... Read More
A couple of years ago I had a call from... Read More
Oh, what has happened to the carbon-based organizational interface? Many... Read More
induction tunnel best led light bulb Pete's produce ..If you've called for customer service recently you're familiar with... Read More
When was the last time you received a handwritten note... Read More
You want customers. I want customers. We all want customers.... Read More
Call center solutions solve a range of age-old problems. As... Read More
Yesterday I went to buy a sandwich at a franchised... Read More
$350 million in bad checks are written each and every... Read More
Your opportunity to build a stellar client relationship starts with... Read More
Do you remember the last time you went into a... Read More
Running a successful business takes a lot of energy and... Read More
Last night I was at my computer and a Skype... Read More
Customer satisfaction is valuable, but customer loyalty is priceless. In... Read More
I got it into my head sometime in December 2004... Read More
One of the most important questions people ask when they... Read More
Many organizations tackle to the issue of customer service by... Read More
What happened to the old saying, the customer is always... Read More
1. It's all about the customer. Some companies focus too... Read More
Walmart was the first business to require all its employees... Read More
Background The company was experiencing an increase in the number... Read More
These moments come when a customer or client?1. Hears someone... Read More
The future of customer service is here. Technology has made... Read More
There are two kinds of customer service we all experience... Read More
Why bother? Good customer service is the life blood of... Read More
Jay instructed a customer of his to offer a rare... Read More
Who was it that said - "The customer is always... Read More
One of my classes in management focused on the repeat... Read More
Customer Service Customer Service |