Issue link: http://cp.revolio.com/i/142672
Time Management Having a specific and effective time management system can be as simple as buying an appointment book. "You don't do anything without looking in that appointment book," says Iris Lee Klapper, a certified massage therapist who has taught career development courses at the Boulder College of Massage Therapy. And remember, time with clients needs to be kept separate from the daily activity of running the office. In a client situation, the client is paying you for your time, so obviously, your time is the client's time. Many time management consultants suggest making lists to help yourself get organized. This is a great way to make sure you do all the things you need to do to keep your office running smoothly. Your list can be broken down into several categories, such as weekly and daily. For instance, you may want to check your supplies weekly and if that task is on your list, you won't forget. This could be critical—for example, you wouldn't want to run out of clean linens in the middle of a hectic day with back-to-back appointments. A weekly list might also include things like: bookkeeping activities, a thorough office cleaning regimen, and checking all inventory. Are you going to sell products such as lotions or massage devices through your practice? Then you need to keep track of what's in stock, how much you buy, and how much you sell. A daily list would include client appointments, as well as reminders to make deposits at the bank and to make time for office organizational activities such as filing and updating client records. And don't forget to schedule some time for you. "You need to have some downtime—part of office management is scheduling time for yourself," Klapper says. One word of caution: be careful not to overload your schedule, Klapper adds. "You need to be able to refer clients to other people if you don't have time for them yourself— your clients will respect that." Although giving referrals for people in need of a service that eases their pain or discomfort could be viewed as giving away business, it's all part of a philosophy of "concordance, not competition" that Klapper says benefits everyone involved. SPH