Mastering Team Competence Through Apprenticeship and Role-Playing

In previous discussions, we explored the importance of inspiring, empowering, and training your team. Today, we’re focusing on how consistent training and role-playing can transform your team's performance and competence.

This method has deep roots in my experience working for a chiropractor early in my career. I remember riding my bike to work one summer, eager to engage in what was then called a "CD series" — a precursor to today’s podcasts. The biggest takeaway from that experience was that success stems from one key principle: we learn together, drill together, and role-play together.

The Journey from Unconsciously Incompetent to Unconsciously Competent

When you onboard and train a new team member, they typically start at the unconsciously incompetent stage. They don’t know what they don’t know, and that’s okay! Even if they’ve worked in a similar role before, your business may have unique processes and expectations.

Through consistent training, role-playing, and apprenticeship, they gradually move to the next phase: consciously incompetent. At this stage, they become aware of what they don’t know and what they need to improve.

With continued drilling and practice, they transition into being consciously competent. They now understand their tasks, but it still requires thought and effort. They can do the job well, but they’re still learning to perform without hesitation.

Finally, the goal is to bring your team to the level of unconsciously competent. Here, the tasks become second nature. Their skills flow effortlessly, and they can bring their unique personality into their work without overthinking. This phase represents mastery, where everything just "clicks" — much like an experienced chiropractor no longer thinks twice about adjusting a patient.

How Role-Playing and Apprenticeship Lead to Mastery

To foster this progression, you should:

• Engage in regular role-playing sessions

• Implement drive-by drilling, where you randomly quiz your team on key procedures or scripts (my team knows this as the “beep beep” drill!)

• Ensure your team has access to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), both written and video, to reference and reinforce their learning

The more your team practices, the better they become, transforming from unconsciously incompetent to unconsciously competent. Just like learning any skill — whether it’s typing or performing clinical duties — the more time invested, the more seamless it becomes.

Takeaway

The path to creating an exceptional team starts with regular, structured training. By nurturing your team through role-playing and apprenticeship, you’re not just creating competent staff members — you’re building a team of experts who can drive your practice forward with minimal oversight.

If you prefer to watch the training video covering Mastering Team Competence, click here to view it on our YouTube channel.

Continuous Learning with the Med Pro Dojo

If you're looking for ways to consistently improve your team’s skills, I want to introduce you to our Team Dojo sessions. These are dedicated training sessions for various roles such as front desk staff, marketing, and case management. We host two dojos per week for each role, offering six time slots where your team can engage in apprenticeship, drill, and role-play to enhance their skills.

This constant learning environment helps your team become unconsciously competent, allowing them to handle their responsibilities with confidence and ease.

For more information on how to get your team involved in our training sessions at Med Pro Dojo, feel free to reach out at:

📞 Phone: 833-678-0800 🌐 Website: www.medprodojo.com

Let’s work together to elevate your practice!