Staff Management

Off-Site Retreats: Tune-Up Your Practice Performance

By Amir Khoshnevis, OD

Over the past year, I’ve spent a lot of time working on my business…while I was away from it all. I can honestly say that the time spent reflecting, thinking about the present state, and shaping the future of my practice has been most productive. In fact, I don’t think it would be possible to accomplish as much while being in the office. Like most of you, I spend most of my time in the office dealing with issues, if I’m not busy with patient care.

Most of this time has been spent with a trusted group of advisors. This group is comprised of women and men I admire professionally and personally. We meet regularly to discuss everything from work/life balance to staff management, associate contracts and strategic planning. This “retreat” with like-minded colleagues gives my business partner and I an opportunity tackle our most challenging problems; realizing often, the problem has been successfully addressed by another member of the group. The power of a collaborative group like this is immeasurable.

If you receive e-mails from Review of Optometric Business, you may have seen an ad for an Executive Retreat by Leadership OD. I’m fortunate to be a part of the faculty of Leadership OD, and in a position to assist one of my favorite people in the profession, Mike Rothschild, OD. Mike has successfully incorporated the best aspects of his world-class practice with the strengths of the members of our study group. You can certainly create your own group, but if you’re looking for a fun-filled couple of days of doctor-to-doctor collaboration and learning from some very successful practices, consider joining me in San Diego.

My attorney told me 10 years ago that the biggest problem I would face as a practice owner would be “being on an island, refusing to join natural allies…because doctors seem to think they can go it alone.” After a short few years, I realized he was absolutely correct. Today, I enjoy deep friendships, brutally honest practice analysis, and a common goal to help our fellow practitioners improve their practices and lives.

Hope to see you in San Diego in July!

How many of you regularly participate in off-site executive or staff retreats to sharpen your practice management thinking?

Amir Khoshnevis, OD, founded Carolina Family Eye Care in 2003. He is a graduate of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry and is a Vision Source Administrator. Dr. Khoshnevis serves as a Professional Development Consultant for Alcon and lectures nationally on practice management topics. He also serves as a national committee member for Optometry Giving Sight. To contact him: drk@carolinafamilyeyecare.com.

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