Personal Branding For Corporate ODs

We live in a world that is highly digitalized. Whether it’s buying daily groceries, a new car, or even buying or selling real estate; everything is being done online. And we aren’t exaggerating when we say people are finding the diagnosis and even the treatment to with “Doctor Google”

The search for medical services and healthcare has become easier than ever thanks to the internet. The use of digital media will continue to grow. How your personal brand is represented on the web is critical for your future success as a Corporate OD. Whether you are a corporate OD in some market giant like Walmart, Costco, or Luxottica or someone practicing in a comparatively smaller optical , personal branding has become an important element more than ever if you want to ensure that you continue advancing in your career path. You want to be know as ” Dr Smith” not the Doctor inside Walmart.

In the field of corporate optometry, needless to say, patients are not just customers, but the sole decision-makers as well. Based on the information they do or do not find about a service, they decide whether to chose you or another provider. Your “reputation” on the web will guide those decision-makers to seek care from you. Your reputation online is the new word of mouth referral. Carefully monitoring what you want others to say and think of you online will continue to elevate your personal brand. A strong personal brand will help you get a promotion, next career move and leadership positions. If you want to outshine in your field and stand out both online and offline, you must follow these essential tips for personal branding.

Take the lead

The work you do is valuable not just to you, but also to your existing as well as any other potential patients in the future. Highlight some of your most important achievements and philosophies in a decent yet noticeable way.

Employed Corporate ODs can display their diplomas and other accomplishments at your corporate optical.  Share them on your own profile online or company social media accounts. Be confident about your skills and the way you practice, people are more likely to trust you for their care.

You should also feel free to share other things that you cherish most in your life. Be it your hobbies, personal interests, awards, charity work, research project or even memorable events with your friends and family. You can gain people’s trust by ensuring they feel familiar with you and can link to you on a closer, friendlier level.

 

Rise from the competition

With the rise of technology, there exist more and more online platforms where you can make your presence known. Corporate ODs can have their own social media pages that is affiliated with the corporate optical . Providing quality content about eye care will improve your standing and thereby, your viewers as well. Moreover, you will also develop you as an eye care expert in the community. It will strengthen your patient base but will also create networking opportunities with other Doctors that can lead to future careers advancements.

Create opportunities

With a diverse outreach in corporate optometry and additional help from your colleagues, you can create opportunities for yourself. Partnering with the eye care director or regional manager will help create opportunities for yourself. Being on advisory boards for corporate opticals will help open doors for yourself if you would like to have a leadership position.  Their recommendations can help build credibility to your name and make your personal brand a brand which people will be proud to endorse.

With proper personal branding, you are sure to be clearly visible  to your patients and future career advancements.

The Psychology of Business in Corporate Optometry


You would already know that this industry is dominated by only a couple of large organizations so we’ll avoid dropping names here. Many industry professionals will go from one company to another and utilize the same strategies and business tactics. Understanding the differences between strategy and tactics will help guide you through your career in corporate optometry.

Power of influence.

Corporate optometry is a field where charisma and similar tactics are often employed to influence ODs into making certain decisions. Even the employees in this field have to tread carefully because corporate optometry practices can be quite manipulative at times. When it comes to corporate optometry, this is just how the business works. The way things are shown is not always the reality. Many times younger ODs are influenced into thinking that working more hours or seeing more patients per hour would increase revenue for their offices as a solution to managed care plans. Yet careful calculations indicate loss in revenue with increased staffing, decreased insurance reimbursement and increasing chair costs.

Understand that corporate opticals are in the business of selling glasses. The optometrist is a part of the puzzle that needs to fit in their plan. Finding ways to elevate their business is sometimes done at the expense of the employed or sublease OD. These tactics are sometimes completed in a charismatic way to influence the OD that it is in their best interest when in reality it is just a way to get the OD to cooperate in a strategy to sell glasses.

Many times Corporate ODs are told that how fierce the competition is and going out on their own would be more difficult than subleasing when in fact that is not the case for many ODs. (There are many different situations)

Here’s what you need to know about the psychology of business in corporate optometry.

The awestruck effect

Charismatic people have this endearing ability to almost hypnotize their audience. Their personal energy, aura and the manner in which they convey their message can persuade you to make the decision they want, without you even recognizing it. It is not until later when you walk away from them and the effect fades away that you realize you have been manipulated. Getting the individualized attention compared to your colleagues maybe one way to influence business decisions on OD side of the business, yet collaborating with others you will find that the same individual discussions are repeated in order to advance the corporate optical agenda. This can lead to emotional exhaustion as ODs suppress their emotions.

For employees in corporate optometry, the awestruck effect can occur for instance when they accept to work for the job that they soon realize is not what they were looking for. When a recruiter promotes a location for its work life balance, medical model and flexible schedule, an OD should also question the regional manager and store manger. Ask other ODs in the area. Many times if it is too good to be true it is. The “honeymoon” stage can only last so long. Understand what you bring to the table for that location and the value that you provide the corporate optical and the staff at that location. What was presented to you at the time of signing should be consistent throughout your time there.

As for sublease ODs, many are painted a picture of a high volume practice, that are turn key and potential of expanding to multiple locations. Optical sales will not directly reflect OD income, there are many factors that shape this. Leading on a sublease OD about additional locations and potential perks is another tactic to pursued ODs to do things that is in the best interest of the optical. Learning to see these tactic trends will help you target the right sublease.

The effect of compelling storytelling

Stories are known for the lasting effect they can have on the audience. A great story not just captivates the listener’s attention, but can also impacts their decision-making ability because the events stick to their mind and influence their actions.

When you interact with a regional manager about telemedicine or increase hours , if they are manipulative then they can lure you into taking an action that might not necessarily be in your best interest. How a story is told can help you differentiate between what is best in your own interest. Many times illustrating how another OD has been a great partner within the organization to impact your decision. That others are doing this and you don’t want to be excluded. Fear tactics can be applied in the same way as a story is told about a sublease termination or not evolving as the optical business evolves. The way that a story is told can increase emotions that can impact a business decision. Business decisions should be based on analytical data and metrics not emotions.

Consider the possibilities that corporate optometry can offer you. The stability, potential to grow a business, income and security. Yet listening to a regional or eye care director might have made you feel like you can pull this off for the numerous ‘benefits’ that it offers. There are many “stories” to the chapters in corporate optometry some you might have to skip.


Attention is (not always) a good thing

Corporate ODs who want to be satisfied with their job. Corporate opticals offer recognition awards for the ODs that have excelled in a regional or nationally. Some provide Doctor of the Year award while others receive accolades via email or social media.

If you are an OD, a corporate giant might initially make you feel welcomed in the workplace by adjusting your work hours, putting you at a location that’s feasible for you and so on.

However, despite the possible relaxations, being burnt-out is still very common in corporate optometry jobs because the rules and regulations are rather binding.  So, if you too are getting stressed at work then it’s time to evaluate what’s wrong and take the appropriate measures if required.

Sometimes attention is given to the younger ODs to sway them to work more hours, help recruit younger ODs or just because that specific location is hard to find OD coverage. Attention can be given to the ODs that are in states that is hard to find coverage to try and sway them to stay when competitors are opening new locations. “Celebrating an OD” but not providing tools and resources that are needed can be tactic that is very familiar in corporate optometry.

Manipulative tactics can be subtle or obvious so whether you are a sublease provider or an employed OD in corporate optometry, the key to ensuring that you don’t fall prey to such techniques is to always stay clear about what you want.

Whenever in doubt, step back from the situation, analyze and evaluate the circumstances and then regain control by asserting yourself more tactfully.