10 Strategies That Will Make the Biggest Difference to Your Practice

1. Manage your time wisely in 2010.

I suggest you plan to work clinically for a maximum of 20 – 24 hours a week and devote the remaining 15 – 16 hours working on building your business, in 2010.

2. Set and pursue goals.

Goals add structure to your daily routine and can be an important component of happiness. They give a sense of purpose and they cultivate self-esteem, as a sense of accomplishment leads to feelings of confidence.

3. Build relationships rather than “do physical therapy”.

Patients don’t come to your practice for the physical therapy experience. They come because they believe there will be benefit for them.

4. Find ways to cope better.

Developing effective coping strategies to manage otherwise stressful situations can change everything, your relationships with your team, your patients, and how you feel about your day.

5. Be available and willing to lead your team.

Physical therapy practice owners often spend their time unavailable and unwilling to lead their team. Without leadership, teams often become dysfunctional or find another leader!

6. Understand how the money flows through your practice.

We had great teachers at the 2010 Summit showing us exactly how to do this easily with the support of the right clinic software. It is simply not daunting but rather a very empowering exercise.

7. Be open, and seek out new ways to attract new clients and new referral sources.

Many practice owners are being very creative and innovative in building their practices.

8. Always keep your focus on creating higher value for your patients.

Ask them, listen to them, and they will in fact tell you how to serve them better and grow your business at the same time.

9. Set aside a few hours every single week dedicated to thinking, planning and being proactive about your business and business challenges.

These hours are for creative problem solving and new idea generating. See the contrast between this and being reactive, hurried, and fighting fires.

10. Take care of your physical and mental well-being.

You simply cannot do well at anything if you aren’t fit and performing at your peak yourself.

Erika Trimble President of Prosperous Physical Therapy and Business Coach has created the first ever business training programs dedicated exclusively to practice owners. Find out how healthy your practice actually is by getting your free Private Practice Business Health Assessment at http://www.ProsperousPhysicalTherapy.com If you want to receive on-going advice and tips for a prosperous practice, sign up for Erika’s bi-monthly practice tips specifically for physical therapists in private practice.