You (Yes, You) Should Hire a Team Member Before You’re Ready

Yes, I’m talking to you with this blog. Even you should hire a team member before you feel like you’re ready. It can feel scary, I know. I’ve been there. But when you’re looking to expand your practice, you’ll need to hire help. No one can do it all on their own, not even you, my friend. 

Think about some of the not-so-fun parts of your business that have to get done: phone calls, checking patients in and out of the office, financial tasks, the joyful admin stuff. Imagine passing that along to a chiropractic assistant.

Whether you’re considering bringing on your first team member or your fifth, please keep reading. This applies to you no matter where you are in your business. Hiring someone for your practice will help you continue to grow, and keeping that momentum up and moving is critical for a successful practice.

“But I’m Not Ready”

You might not feel ready to bring on that next amazing addition to your team, but you know what? This is something that’s kind of like having a baby. You never really feel like you’re ready. You can second-guess yourself and play the “what if” game as long as you want. But hiring a team member is the best way to help your practice grow. There are only so many hours in a day, and eventually, you’ll hit a limit with how many people you can serve when you are trying to wear alllll the hats alone.

If you’re nervous about hiring the wrong person, then you’re in luck. I have a blog just for you about the three things you need to look for in a CA. And, you might not get it right the first time. I would even go so far to say that those three qualities can apply to an Associate doctor or any other team member you’re looking to hire.

Before you hire, read through my three non-negotiables, and then consider them in relation to your practice. Maybe you agree, or maybe you have other thoughts. My recommendation to you, though, is to create your list of non-negotiables and stick to it. That’s the best way to make sure you’re hiring the right people who will work well in your environment.

Check the Numbers First, Though

I want to add this caveat. Yes, I absolutely think you should hire before you feel ready because if you wait until you’re ready, you probably never will OR you'll wait until you are literally drowning and then have no time to train someone appropriately!  But do be smart about it. Take some time to run the numbers and see what the financial investment really is. When you get all of the information out in front of you, I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s less than you were thinking.

In fact, often just one new patient’s care plan could cover a CA’s monthly salary! Then take a step back and look at what you could do if you had that assistant. Maybe that would free up your time to do more marketing to bring in those patients. Or maybe you have a waiting list and hiring a CA would give you the time to bring on a new patient who’s ready and waiting.

If you already have a team member, this probably sounds familiar. You probably ran the numbers before you made your first hire and calculated what would need to happen for them to join your team. Remember the moment when you decided to hire them and brought them on board. How did you feel? Relived? Excited? Hopeful?

If you’re still not convinced, take a moment to think about where you want your practice to be in a year’s time. Close your eyes and really think about it. Can you get there on your own, or with the team you have right now?

Would it take you a lot of time and more work than you’d like to admit to yourself?

I have a feeling it probably would.

But what if you brought on an additional CA?  You could have someone to support you, your patients and your dream. Someone who can help you get to where you want to be in a year.

If you’ve run the numbers and realistically think you can make it work, then it’s time to step into the uncomfortable. Being a business owner sometimes means doing something scary. You might not feel ready, but your practice and your patients are ready for you to expand. 

I believe in you. It’s time to take your practice to the next level, and the right next team member can help you with that.