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IDOC actively shares industry-focused articles, blog posts, podcasts, videos and other thought leadership with our members and other optometric practitioners. Below, you will find links to our growing library of educational materials and multi-media assets written and created by IDOC's team of seasoned industry experts.
Dr. Steve Vargo | 10/18/2019
DO YOUR EMPLOYEES KNOW WHY THEY'RE DOING THEIR JOB?

Why do I have to do what you’re asking me to do?

If an employee of yours asked that, your response would likely be harsh.

What do you mean why do you have to do it? You’re an employee here. I sign your paycheck. You have to do it because I told you to do it!

In reality, most employees wouldn’t actually vocalize that complaint to their boss, so the scenario above may never actually materialize in your office. However; it’s likely that many of your employees have silently asked this very question.

Why do I have to do this?

Why is this important?

What if I just didn’t do it?

In a book titled Why Employees Don’t Do What They’re Supposed to and What You Can Do About It, the authors researched the top reasons employees don’t do what they are supposed to. Guess what the #1 reason was? The employee didn’t know “why” they should do it.

As a boss, you might not feel like you should have to explain the Why, but I suggest working it into conversations with employees and observing if it has any impact on performance or production.

We need to arrive to work on time BECAUSE when we don’t patients are kept waiting and it leads to a poor first impression of our practice.

We need to make fewer billing errors BECAUSE if we don’t get paid, we can’t continue investing into employee raises and bonuses.

We’re asking you to learn this new skill BECAUSE it will enhance the experience for the patient which drives word-of-mouth referrals.

I can’t promise you this will always reap positive benefits, but considering it’s the #1 reason employees don’t do what you want them to do, doesn’t it make sense to at least try to address the issue for the employee?

I’m asking you to do this BECAUSE it just might work.

Dr. Steve Vargo
Practice Management Consultant
Steve Vargo, OD, MBA is a 1998 graduate of Illinois College of Optometry. After working in a clinical optometric practice for several years, Dr. Vargo pursued his passion for practice management by earning his Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from the University of Phoenix in 2008. A published author and speaker with 15 years of clinical experience, he serves as IDOC’s Optometric Practice Management Consultant and advises members in all areas of practice management and optometric office operations. Steve and his wife Melanie have two sons, Lucas and Ryan. In his spare time, he enjoys running, cycling, sports and music. A native Chicagoan, he is an avid fan of the Cubs, live music and deep-dish pizza.
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