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How Healthcare Practices Can Move Beyond Compensation to Retain Talent

In the fiercely competitive landscape of allied healthcare practices, attracting and retaining top talent has become a strategic imperative for practices looking to thrive in a crowded market. While offering competitive compensation packages has long been the go-to method for practices competing for the attention of practitioners and great operational administrators, it is increasingly clear that simply throwing money at the problem is not enough to secure the loyalty and commitment of valuable employees and independent contractors. 

To truly stand out as an employer of choice in the healthcare field, it is essential, and more sustainable, to move beyond traditional compensation strategies and explore more holistic approaches to talent retention that prioritize strength in leadership, a team culture of excellence, and a sense of belonging and alignment to personal purpose and values. 

In this blog, the ELEVATE team provides 4 tips which highlight the importance of looking beyond compensation to retain your top talent and discuss actionable steps that practice owners can take to build a team that is engaged, motivated, and loyal.

  1. People Don’t Leave Their Company, They Leave Their Leader.

Quality of leadership can make a significant difference in retaining top talent. Research has shown time and again that people don’t leave their company; they leave their leader. 

To foster a work environment where employees feel valued, respected, and motivated to stay, it’s crucial for leaders to prioritize building strong relationships with their team members. This involves cultivating trust through open communication, practicing transparency in decision-making processes, and embracing influence leadership to inspire and empower employees to reach their full potential. 

By investing in meaningful connections with those you lead, you can create a culture of support, collaboration, and growth that not only retains top talent but also drives success of the practice in the long run.

  1. Get Great at Storytelling: Bring Your ‘Why’ to Life and Create Impact.

Storytelling is a powerful tool that leaders can leverage to inspire, connect, and engage with their teams. 

By weaving narratives that resonate with emotions and values, leaders can effectively communicate their vision, goals, and challenges in a way that captivates and motivates their team members. Stories have the ability to humanize complex concepts, making them more relatable and memorable. They can help build trust, foster empathy, and create a strong sense of purpose among team members.

By sharing stories that highlight successes, setbacks, and lessons learned, leaders can cultivate a culture of learning, collaboration, and resilience. This sense of camaraderie and shared purpose not only boosts morale and engagement but also enhances talent retention. Employees are more likely to stay motivated and committed to their work when they feel connected to their colleagues and inspired by the stories of their leaders.

Storytelling can also have a direct impact on productivity within teams. By framing challenges as opportunities for growth and transformation, leaders can empower others to think creatively, problem-solve collaboratively, and adapt to change more effectively. Stories can be used to celebrate achievements, recognize individual contributions, and reinforce core values, all of which contribute to a positive work environment where team members feel valued, supported, and motivated to perform at their best. In this way, storytelling becomes a powerful tool for driving productivity and fostering a culture of excellence.

  1. Together We Are Better: A Team That Plays Together Stays Together

Creating the opportunity for shared experiences and social interactions has a large impact in building a strong team bond and retention. As a practice owner, it’s essential to encourage team members to spend time together both in and outside of work. This strengthens connections, builds trust, and enhances collaboration. 

Opportunities like learning together, whether through team-building activities, training sessions, or workshops, teams can develop a deeper understanding of each other’s strengths, skills, and perspectives. Creating opportunities for social time, such as coffee, lunches, social outings, allows team members to relax, unwind, and connect on a more personal level, fostering a sense of connection and belonging. This can also be achieved through events which your team supports in the community you service. 

Shared experiences not only promote unity but also instills a sense of pride and fulfillment in making a positive impact beyond the workplace. By intentionally creating these moments for connections, leaders can cultivate a cohesive and resilient team that thrives on collaboration, support, and a shared sense of purpose.

  1. Taking Friction Out of the System.

Taking friction out of the system involves streamlining day-to-day processes to make them more efficient and user-friendly. 

A practice owner must quickly identify and address small and large, chronic friction points within workflows, resulting in reduced frustration, increased productivity, and improved engagement. Even the most minor obstacles, such as unclear communication, manual processes, and poor schedule management process, may seem insignificant on their own but can accumulate over time, leading to dissatisfaction and disengagement and impact to your client experience. 

Addressing friction points not only enhances experience but also helps prevent turnover by creating a more positive work environment where team members can focus on their core responsibilities without unnecessary obstacles. 


As a practice owner, losing great team members can feel frustrating and deflating. It’s also equally frustrating competing for talent on compensation. By focusing on ELEVATE’s 4 tips to better team member retention, you can shift the focus from solely relying on compensation to creating a work environment that fosters loyalty, engagement, and long-term commitment. 

By implementing these strategies, you can not only retain top talent but also build a cohesive and motivated team that is dedicated to delivering high-quality care and driving the success of your practice. 

Remember, when team members feel valued, supported, and empowered, they are more likely to stay committed and contribute their best efforts to help your practice thrive.

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