It is important to hire the right professionals when you are building a business. Even if you are not expanding into a group practice, you may still want to hire an administrative assistant to help you streamline your practice. Many practitioners hire billers or administrative support to respond to referrals and schedule clients which allows the clinician to focus on providing therapy.
Hiring the wrong type of assistant can…
The wrong assistant for your business can have overreaching detrimental effects on both you and your assistant, but also on your business. It can cost you money, especially if the assistant is inefficient or not skilled in handling referrals or other tasks you have assigned them. It can also contribute to burnout for you if you need to oversee their work or fix mistakes.
If someone is not the right fit for you or your business, it is crucial to recognize this early. They may be working just as hard-if not harder-than someone who is the right fit, simply to meet expectations. This can lead to significant burnout. It is also important to assess whether they are coachable or if they require more support than you can realistically provide.
How can I avoid hiring the wrong assistant?
Have a clear idea of what you want your administrative assistant to do for your business. Come up with a list of job tasks and duties for them that you consider to be mandatory for the success of your business. This will help you in writing a detailed job post when you decide to advertise. It can also help avoid misunderstandings or miscommunication. Whoever applies for the job will know what tasks you are expecting them to be proficient in and this will help you avoid potentially hiring someone without the skill set.
You will also want to ask for recommendations, conduct an interview, and check references for anyone you are considering hiring. During the interview, you can assess for various soft skills that may be important to you. It is also a good time to see if they align with your values for your company!
We can help!
We have a consultant, Katelyn Martins, that specializes in streamlining operations as well as hiring and training the right administrative support to scale your business. She is offering a free webinar on August 27th at 12 EST on whether to hire an in person or virtual assistant. Sign up here. Schedule a free consult with her here.
