Have you ever wondered what it takes to become a tattoo artist? Is it as simple as having a passion for drawing and a love for tattoos? As it turns out, there's much more to this art form than meets the eye. Let's use a hypothetical story about my husband, Steven Gill. He is incredibly talented in drawing, has a true passion for tattoos, and has a great personality. Over the years, he has acquired quite a collection of ink himself.
But does that make me want to hire him as a tattoo artist? No. Being a tattoo artist requires much more than artistic skills and a love for tattoos. It requires years of training, practice, and a deep understanding of the human body.
Tattooing is not something that should be taken lightly. So why am I sharing this with you? I've noticed a disturbing trend in the eye care industry. Many clinics and practices hire individuals lacking the skills and qualifications to perform their jobs effectively. Too many people share that you hire for personality, and then you can train them.
Yet, you see similar discussions about how they are too slow, not showing up to work, or do not have the essential competencies to do the job. Personality does matter, yet so do other skills. Please check out the article "How to Build a Winning Team: Identifying the Soft and Hard Skills" by Steven Gill.
When sourcing new talent for your business, take a moment to think about the skills needed to perform the job — the soft and hard skills. While their skills do not need to be related to eye care, they do need to be necessary to do the job effectively and efficiently. As they say, time is money⌚
Regarding eye care, we must prioritize competency and expertise while ensuring a good cultural fit to represent the brand. To do that, practices need to hire professionals with the necessary education, skills, and training to ensure the highest level of patient care. This means ensuring all staff possess the skills and qualifications required to perform their roles. So, personality plays a significant role, but so do other skills to ensure you are hiring the best.
As a licensed optician myself, I am passionate about advocating for proper training and qualifications in the eye care industry. I have seen firsthand the positive impact of skilled professionals on patients' lives. Let's prioritize quality, safety, and expertise in the eye care industry. After all, our eyes deserve nothing less.