Game Changers – Operational Standards

Leading practices take the lead and stay there because they have performance standards for which they train to attain. They scout the competition, assess their own potential, establish expectations, develop strategy, and manage resources. Like sports teams, industry leaders go into the season and every day expecting to perform to their potential and leave the winner. They play as professionals and constantly step up to new challenges.

Professionals are energized by performance standards because they empower them to bring out their best.  

Every professional athlete and team is defined by their statistics. They know what is expected of them and deliver reliably. They understand that their compensation and job security depend on how well they perform every day. They can never rest on past accomplishments. If stats or attendance are down, players, coaches and managers are held accountable. There are always contenders who will readily step into any performance gap.

Without performance standards, accountability, and consequences there is no excellence – there is no superior performance.  Top performers earn the reputation and hold the title only so long as performance excels. They reliably adapt to deliver under new challenges and changing conditions.

In practice, operational standards include clinical outcomes, sales, revenue, expense, charges, collection, cash flow, utilization, productivity, profit, and market share. Everyone has their stats and every statistic has an owner. Every decision and action impacts performance by helping or hurting – neutral impact does not exist.


There are three reasons Practices are not top performers - no standards, the wrong standards, or inadequate management implementing standards.

Performance standards are a strategic tool. Each standard influences, and is influenced by, the other standards. They are crafted not cast. Management’s most important task each season is the definition of performance standards – it is the cornerstone of business strategy.

It’s about more than budgeting. It’s about the orchestration of priorities, resources, and deliverables that will ensure a championship performance by the team. It’s about setting the bar; and it’s about going over the bar day after day.

Operational Standards are a sign of professionalism. They separate front runners from the pack.

Operational Standards are incredible Game Changers for those who know how to use them. There is nothing that creates more value in less time and at less expense than Operational Performance Standards. They are powerful and potent. They do more than change the game – they transform the culture of the team. They transform players into professionals. They establish competitive advantage.

Got Standards?

All The Best!

Bob

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Performance Builders