Links to Articles

Great Content from Leadership OD

Earlier this year, Review of Optometric Business attended our  and was impressed with the level of expertise from those in attendance.  Afterwards the editors followed some Leadership OD members home and asked for more.  

We would like to bring your attention to some recent ROB articles by Leadership OD members.  Great insight from a variety of perspectives!

Dr. Scott Huffer from Nashua, New Hampshire shares the value of meetings in getting his large team on the same page.  Learn what kind of financial impact this has on the practice and if it's worth it.

See the Article

Lisa Greene from Asheville, NC shares how she decides when to invest in new equipment.  Often, it is a struggle to just make this decision.  Learn how she weighs the pros and cons and ultimately makes the call.

See the Article

Leadership OD founder, Mike Rothschild was also featured recently on ROB with an article on Empowering the Staff.  Learn how he strives to enable his team for success.  

"Personalized Building Blocks" are Revolutionary

"Personalized Building Blocks" Revealed at RevYou

At Leadership OD, we are always looking for new ways to keep us focused on what matters most.  In the BluePrint, we begin the program with a Vision Builder which is designed to help give you clear direction about your unique practice.  In the Building Blocks Membership program, each Block begins with a Vision Leader survey to ensure that each practice’s individual needs are met.  There is no “one-size fits all.”

RevolutionEHR holds an annual users meeting called RevYou for its community to connect, learn, and advance their knowledge of RevolutionEHR to enhance their practices. Prior to the meeting, they hold a bonus practice management workshop and this year, Leadership OD was asked to deliver an impactful message that would last.  

The workshop began with a summary of the Five Zones of Eye Care by Mike Rothschild. Then Mick Kling discussed the need for a Strong Financial Foundation, and Amir Khoshnevis delivered his signature message on Creating a Culture of Excellence. The attendees were then put to work to create a Block that was special and unique to them. 

Introducing the "Personalized Building Blocks"

Those in attendance at RevYou
were the first ones to see the Personalized Building Blocks in action.  The impact of customizing your own Block must be experienced to be fully understood.  It is a palpable experience that leaves the builder with a reminder of the overall vision of the practice.  The finalized block shows each zone with the Financial as the foundation that holds up the rest.  The most important aspects of each zone are decided by the builder and recorded directly on the Block, itself.
 

(Remember I said, it “must be experienced to be fully understood.”)

When finished, everyone had worked diligently on their Block which was not like anyone else’s.  For those in the same practice, big differences in the Blocks meant conflicting missions that need to be cleared up before they can move on.  For others, it clears up why we keep doing these things every day in the first place.  The Block is a clear reminder of the purpose of our practice.

The inside of the Block is a bit more personal.  While the outside is what you will project as a practice, the inside of the Block is dedicated to what you, personally will do (or stop doing) to make the practice all it can be.  The fact is that for our practices to be the best, each person that makes up the practice needs to be their best too.  This is your reminder to bring your best every day.

Completing the Blocks was thought provoking and fun because it had us moving around.  

Dr. Jodie Larson of Madison, South Dakota said, “I loved the box and the lectures. Very good, and makes you start thinking about what is really important for our practice, patients and staff. Thank you! Do the boxes at future lectures!”
 

Leadership OD Members will all use the Blocks in their own practice.

In October, the Leadership OD membership webinar will be an online “training session” with Mike Rothschild on how to utilize the Personalized Building Block with their staff.   He will review the method used to facilitate completion of the Block as a group and share his secrets to get people to open up. 

This will be followed by a Face2Face discussion about how it went in our practices.  Together we will improve the process each time. 

We also plan for the Personalized Building Blocks to be a big part of the Executive Retreat in San Diego this January.  Everyone will create their own Block and we will circle back to it throughout the meeting. We can't wait to see you all there!

Now Amir is Preaching

Dr. Amir Khoshnevis and I recently had a chance to catch up.  Amir is passionate about communications with patients and with all of the developments in how we communicate; he helps me understand how to stay in touch.

Review of Optometric Business just released a conversation I had with Amir about staying in touch.  Amir has always called me “The Reverend” due to my southern preacher method of delivering a message.  While he taught me a lot about staying in touch with patients, watch this video to see what I am able to teach Amir. 

Amir, and his practice partner Dave Lupinski, have also taught me a lot about maintaining high quality in the optical area of my practice. 
I have been involved in optometry since childhood and there has always been some “villain” who is trying to take away our business.  When I was a child, I remember my uncles complaining about Pearle Vision and now we are worried about Warby Parker. 
The fact is that since the beginning of business, there has always been someone who is looking for a way to do it better.  When someone is taking your business, it is simply because they have found a better way – at least for some of your “customers.”  So you can plop down and cry about it, or you can get to work. 

 

I say "Let's Get to Work"

Trust me when I tell you that your optical needs attention.  They all do.  We all neglect the optical from time to time.  It is usually ok for a while because we tend to put strong team members in the optical areas of our office that can keep us afloat for a while.  But the industry is changing so fast that we must stop from time to time to get a handle on it.

In the month of May, our Building Block will work to improve our performance in the optical. Leadership OD members will have an opportunity to focus on the optical in this month’s Building Block.  We will begin the Block with a webinar by Jennifer DaQuano from NuVue Optical in Charlotte.  She pioneered the methods used in this high end eyewear practice that sets the standard for the rest of us to strive toward.  Jennifer will share proven techniques to  implement strategies for long term success in the optical. To prepare for our Face2Face Block discussions, Vision Leaders and optical staff will receive short surveys to inquire about the issues most pressing in our opticals today and compare that to our goals.  After the Leadership OD team has compiled this information, we will meet online to bring it all together in a plan.

I always feel a sense of renewed energy in the Spring and this is no exception. I look forward to working with our members this month while we bring that energy into our optical. 

-Mike

Book Recommendation

Setting the Table

I think you will like this book

I came across a book that I think you will enjoy, Setting the Table by Danny Meyer.  He is the founder and owner of several restaurants in New York and made himself famous by filling unmet needs and bringing hospitality into his establishments.

I have sent a copy to all of the active members of Leadership OD.

Danny Meyer's first restaurant becomes successful and he wrestles with the decision to open a second location.  Then, he fails to meet income projections and struggles to find what can do.  He tries something different, and it doesn't work.  So, he tries again.

Doesn't this all sound familiar?

-Mike