Your Image, by Dr. Ogi Ressel

Friday, June 19th 2009

Warm hellos to everyone!

We meet again! Yes, that time has come again where I step in and give you my own THOT For

The Week!

So....let's talk about the issue of "image."

From what I've seen at seminars all over the US and Canada it was a
topic worth addressing.

Having been to many offices and being an image consultant I have pretty
much seen it all when it comes to this image "thing." All Clinics have different
styles and appearances: Some offices are casual, while others are more formal.
There are offices that like uniforms while the others prefer "scrubs".

I've even seen offices that allow staff members to come to work in sweats! YIKES!

And I've learned that most doctors are very aware whether their team is projecting
the right image and are dressing appropriately or not. The problem is that most
doctors steer away from correcting their staff for fear of injuring someone's feelings.
Image is very personal to everyone.  And... I really hate to say this to all of you...but
it needs to be done. You do need to correct your staff. ....and yourself.

I'm sure most of you have heard the saying, "you can't judge a book by its cover".
While that may be true, it's very difficult to change a first impression. In today's
society, it would naïve for anyone to think that judgment is not passed through
observation. We live in a very visual era. Advertisements are everywhere.

Things are sold to us visually all the time. In that same manner, you, as doctors,
are also selling yourselves as well as your team. How you and your team looks
and present themselves makes a statement about who you are and what you represent.

The term "wellness" is sweeping the nation. Everyone is after it. Luckily as a
profession, we are who the public is turning too and we need to make sure we
can demonstrate this! So what does the public think of when "wellness" is
mentioned? Most people think of a glowing, healthy, "fit", yoga-going, soy-bean
eating, organic, "oh natural" kind of people....whether that be the case of not,
that is the reality of the situation.

Now, knowing this, take a good, HONEST, hard look at your lifestyle. Are you fit?
Healthy? Non-smoker? Active? Lean? Some of you may not find this to be very
important but it is for your patients. Trust me on this.

As a health care professional you must reflect that state of being. Why would a
patient want to see or take advice from an overweight, out of shape, yellow
finger-stained, unhealthy looking doctor or staff member?

It would be similar to going to a gym and hiring a personal trainer....would
you feel motivated to follow this person's recommendations if they were
overweight and looked no more fit than you are? Not likely. I'd personally ask
for my money back.  So this is the first aspect of "image" you'll need to
address as a team - your appearance and whether or not you fit your patient's
image of a doctor - and not just you, your staff as well.

And that is not all - you also need to "dress to impress" so to speak. If
you look like a slob,  people assume that is how your office is run and that
you obviously lack the proper skills necessary to be a good doctor.

Sad but true. You need to make sure that your staff are always dressed
nicer than your patients. Period.
No exceptions. No scrubs. Sorry, but you're not in a medical office last time
I checked. Your staff are professionals that handle schedules, filing, and
finances and should be dressed appropriately. It demands a certain level
of respect and definitely projects more confidence than scrubs ever would.
Aim to have your staff dress in nice, professional "bank" attire. Rule of thumb
is; if your staff can't pull off what they are wearing in a nice, upscale restaurant,
then they need to go home and change.

Wait....I am not finished!

On top of that, they need to wear make-up (not over doing it though, and
definitely no wild and crazy 80's oriented eye shadows and lipsticks!) and
come in with their hair taken care of. NO WET HAIR!  I never understood why
doctors allow their staff come in with wet hair. Does it kill people to take the
extra ten minutes with a blow dryer? I think not. It's a sign of disrespect to
you and your patients. Your staff member shouldn't look like a drowned rat
or a member of the sewer people brigade when they show up at your clinic.
It wouldn't be allowed in any other business atmosphere and certainly your
office should be no exception. Besides, if you don't think much of yourself
then why would your patients? If you consider yourself average, then so will they.

Now, doctors, you need to be presentable, but watch out not to be stuffy. We're
not going for the look of constipation here. When I say this, I'm talking about
doctors who wear button up shirts and ties. Yes...the 80's look! You should be
approachable to your patients. Wear slacks and a nice golf shirt or Hawaiian shirt.

Be comfortable. Show your style. Same for women. And above all, be up to date
with your look. Most people get comfortable with a style they've had when
younger - much younger, and it seems to stick. If you aren't sure what's up to
date, set up a consultation at a hair salon. Get a magazine. Have a look around in newer stores.

Yes....make 2008 your Year! Don't be trapped in the 80's.

Above all, I want all of you to feel happy and confident about who you are.
People who feel great about themselves always have it written all over their faces.
So go out there take time for yourself, get motivated, get fit, and remember
to dress to impress.

Warmest wishes,
Christie Ressel