The link between mental wellbeing and performance in the workplace is undisputed and practice staff can be at the very forefront.
Vision Express at Tesco employee Sheena Tanna-Shah has combined her role as an optometrist with life coaching and healthy foods
A former A-level psychology student, she qualified as an optometrist 14 years ago before setting out to be a life coach six years later.
Now Tanna-Shah also has her own food business, called Pure and Raw Goodies, selling vegan, sugar and gluten free treats to fitness studios, restaurants, cafes and direct to consumers.
‘I wanted to root down my optics first. But once that stability was secured I thought “let’s give it a go”. I started doing one-to-one sessions, tackling issues including weight loss, confidence and those that were procrastinating in their goals.
‘Where the company invests in the well-being of their employees, there is funding in the background dedicated to developing these people.’
She now works in optical, fitness and corporate environments, spending at least three to four weeks with each individual.
Her clients are taken out of the working environment to start working on issues such as doubt and anxiety.
She says: ‘First, it is a case of ironing any personal issues out in order to focus on the work situation. When coaching we are decluttering your mind and getting motivated.
‘When it is corporate coaching we look at performance goals often set by the management but also individual personal goals. If personal goals and individual situations/circumstances aren’t looked at then these often affect work and day to day performance.
‘When you look forward to going to work with team mates it makes it all the more enjoyable.’
Crossover with optics
Within her own profession, Tanna-Shah has coached and mentored pre-reg optometrists, particularly on the importance of communication.
‘I was getting bored with the role myself and wasn’t the only one thinking it. I had to re-look at things and see how I could change my outlook and keeps things fun and interesting.’
She introduced perks such as free cups of Costa coffee for a good eye test or dispense, and has grown to love being a mentor.
Tanna-Shah says: ‘Going back to practice after maternity leave, reinventing myself and doing it differently, has made me enjoy things more than I ever knew. I found a way to love what I do. I champion the power of goal setting and encourage optical assistants to embark on new courses to learn and study.
‘The main thing pre-reg students struggle with is simply mind-set. It is all about taking time out to be mindful and find out what they are doing it for.’
Patient rapport forms a central part of her mentoring, encouraging pre-regs to connect fully with their patients.
She adds: ‘On first encounter it takes seven seconds for a patient to form a judgement on you, so we need to make those seven seconds count.
‘Take a moment to sit back and simply ask the patient how their day has been, they will then relax and be much more open throughout. As an optometrist you are routinely carrying out the tests, but it’s not “routine” for the patients. Studies have shown that patient anxiety is elevated throughout the entire eye exam.
‘Looking at body language and tone is key, when the patient is feeling understood they will be more receptive to what you are saying to them. But don’t judge your patients in a uniform state, you need to get to know them rather than just classifying them as “the one before lunch” or “the one before going home”.’
Tanna-Shah with her daughters during an exhibition of her healthy foods business
She encourages pre-reg students to treat every patient ‘as if they are your mother or father’.
Tanna-Shah also delivers performance coaching for a Specsavers director interested in boosting well-being and performance at the same time. She has introduced a ‘wow board’ for the whole team to celebrate each other with individual accolades such as ‘great service’, ‘high dispense’ and ‘most effort’.
At her VE practice in Northampton, she also hosts group peer discussions focusing on the dialogue that can be used to handle patient anxiety and completed her dissertation on this subject.
However, the process of launching new career moves and businesses has not been without personal challenges.
‘You have disappointments along the way but it’s about how you recover that counts,’ she says.
An example was finding herself short of childcare one Saturday but having the food stall to run. Instead of cancelling she gave daughters Sienna and Isla, aged five and six years, an apron each and they helped.
‘They were living life. It is about incorporating them into what I do. As a parent you have to factor in some fun time though because it is easy to say yes to everything,’ Tanna-Shah says.
The mother of two also practices mindfulness, meditation and yoga with her daughters and also works in schools, teaching nine to 10-year-olds about having a positive mind-set.
‘I basically believe a healthy mind-set and nourishing the body go hand in hand. Then the world is your oyster,’ she adds.
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