Ever feel like you’re running a practice full of ghosts?

They show up, do their work, and disappear. No real teamwork. No real connection. Just… heads down, get through the day, go home.

I hear this a lot from practice managers:

“Why don’t they talk to each other?”

“Why won’t anyone help out unless I ask?”

“Why does it feel like we’re all just coexisting?”

It’s frustrating because you want a team, not just a collection of people doing their own thing.

The real reason teams disconnect

It’s not laziness. It’s not that they hate their jobs. It’s just human nature—people don’t invest in something unless they feel like they belong.

Think about it. Ever been at a party where you knew no one? Did you enthusiastically start introducing yourself… or did you lurk near the snack table, pretending to check your phone? Not just me then…

Your team needs to feel like they belong before they’ll step up and work together.

How to create connection (without cheesy team-building exercises)

✅ Shift the way you talk about work

Instead of: “We need to stay on schedule.”

Try: “When we run on time, patients feel cared for and less stressed.” Give people a purpose, a reason behind what you’re doing.

✅ Encourage ‘helping’ as the norm

Next time you need assistance, don’t assign it—ask the room:

“Who’s got five minutes to jump in?”

Let people volunteer to step up. It feels better than being told to.

✅ Celebrate teamwork, not just individual wins

Instead of: “Thanks for handling that patient well.”

Try: “That was great teamwork between you and reception—perfect handover”

Connection isn’t about forced fun or pep talks. It’s about creating an environment where people naturally engage because they feel valued.

Start small. And don’t be surprised if one day… they actually start talking to each other.