Posts Tagged ‘dental staff’
Believe in Yourself!
January 16, 2012 | 
Author If You Don’t Believe In You, No One Else Can!
By Dr. Rhonda R. Savage, DDS
“When we choose a goal and invest ourselves in it to the limits of our concentration, whatever we do will be enjoyable. And once we have tasted this joy, we will redouble our efforts to taste it again. This is the way the self grows”. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
Describe a time when you took a risk. What was the result? In many practices that I’ve consulted in, the honest answer to the question was: “At this point in my life, I’m having stressful issues (family, work, personal). I don’t take risks. Getting myself out of bed in the morning, getting dressed, and getting myself to work is about all the risk I want to take, thank you very much! If you’ve felt like this, you are not alone. A full 50% of our dental population is more comfortable not taking risks.
Of all that influences us in our lives, I would daresay its “attitude”. With a great attitude, anything is possible! My outlook on life changed during those tough teenage years, but not so much that I believed I could actually accomplish great things. I was afraid to take risks. After all, I might “mess up!” I chose not to attend college after high school and instead landed a job in a dental office. That was so stressful! There was so much to learn, with all the instrument names and procedures it was like learning a foreign language. The first 6 months were the toughest. Everyday, I would march up the stairs to the dental office, with a nauseous pit in my stomach that hit the minute I would smell those dental smells! After six years in the practice, though, working at the chair and front desk, I wanted to do more. I loved working with patients and I wanted to become a dentist. It seemed an impossible dream…8 years of school and no money, but I chose the goal and was willing to take the risk!
It’s easier to procrastinate than to embrace change. Eleanor Roosevelt once said: “It takes as much energy to wish as it does to plan.” How many of you believe this? I know this is true! Many of us wish our practices were different. How can you change this?
Start by recognizing the qualities of a leader:
- Has a great understanding of people
- Imaginative
- Accepts responsibility; doesn’t pass the buck
- Is not satisfied with status quo
- Is organized
- Stays calm in the face of a crisis
- Takes risks
- Is secure and not defensive; is open to criticism
- Stays flexible
- Has team spirit
- Accepts change
Think about the last time you took a risk. Do you need to stretch your limits again? What have you done recently that’s outside your comfort zone? Focus on leadership development, which is a lifelong practice. Read leadership books and listen to audio CD’s when you’re commuting. Most importantly, remember that if you don’t believe in you, no one else can!
Facebook in your Practice
Facebook participation can be an asset to the practice. How do we use this opportunity to promote the practice yet ask team members to be cautious in their postings? What should the doctor and office manager post? The guidelines listed below must apply to every member of the dental team, including the doctor. Because of the potential downsides, many dental offices shy away from any form of social media and internet visibility like a website. Lack of visibility on the web can be detrimental to your practice. One use of Facebook is to let the patients and potential patients know something about you personally. Patients come to you for a relationship. They assume that you know how to do the dentistry. A relationship means that we share something of ourselves. One way your Facebook can help connect you to people is with a link from your website. If you don’t have a website in this day and age, you’ve dated your practice. Patients will look for your presence on the web; a website says you’re current and up to date!
Facebook can be a tremendous networking tool. Business pages on Facebook can elevate your website status through Search Engine Optimization. In addition, if you have a Facebook Business page link on the opening page of your website, potential patients can feel that they know you and your office before coming in for their new patient experience. I know of dental practices that have gained new patients, referred in by not yet seen new patients, simply because of the Business Facebook page! Think of Facebook a bit like a cocktail party, where you circulate and share snippets of conversation.
Author: Rhonda R. Savage, DDS, CEO Miles Global
For any feedback, comments, or concerns contact me at:
Paul J. Lackner Miles Global (formerly Linda Miles and Associates) (877) 343-0909 x1 office (253) 857-0834 fax www.MilesGlobal.netStaff or staph: asset or infection?
Staff or staph: asset or infection?
By Rhonda R. Savage, DDS
You have heard the old saying “Walk a mile in another person’s shoes before you criticize them.” Here’s a fun twist: “Walk a mile in another person’s shoes before you criticize them. That way, when you criticize them, you’re a mile away and you have their shoes!”
I’d better start walking now, because I plan to be critical. I’ve heard people say, “Don’t call them staff. That’s an infection.” I respectfully disagree. Walk with me and let me know what you think.
As a former dental assistant and front office person, I know how hard the dental staff works. I also know the challenges dentists face daily. As someone who’s been in nearly all levels of the profession, I personally don’t understand what’s wrong with the word “staff.” In fact, I believe the term staff should be a badge of honor and worn proudly. Patients trust staff opinion and follow their directions. Doctors cannot do what they do without the staff. Staff is a great word.
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Dental Practice – Developing a Preventive Periodontal Protocol
By Rhonda R. Savage, DDS
Click here for Audio
Part 1
Do you place your dental patients’ best interest first? If you do, the money will follow! You’ll lower your risk of malpractice and increase your income! But most importantly, your patients will receive the care they deserve and expect!
Times have changed with regards to periodontal disease. Most people now agree that there is a connection of the mouth to the body! Hurray! While science isn’t exact, the majority of research agrees that periodontal disease is linked to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, low birth weight babies, hormonal changes, obesity, metabolic syndrome, smoking, nutritional deficiency and autoimmune diseases. Is your practice “up to snuff”? Patients are more knowledgeable today than ever before because of increased publicity surrounding periodontal disease.
How do you evaluate your periodontal protocol? Ask yourself these questions:
Dental Practice Management – Teams, Part 4
Why Some Dental Teams Click and Some Don’t
Click here for the audio: Teams Part 4 Dress for Success
Part 4 – Dress for success:
Image is critical: Dress for success! You’ve heard this a million times; what does it mean?
Project a positive, can do, confident image. Get the training you need and if necessary…fake it until you make it!
If you need to, get an expert to help you with your image. Image contains SO many variables.
One example: How do you shake hands? Is your handshake weak? This projects a lack of confidence. Is your handshake too strong? Do you hurt the other person’s fingers? Not good! Where is your thumb placed during the handshake? A thumb up during the handshake expresses dominance and confidence.
Or, another example, for male doctors: Are your eye glass frames current? Men seldom update their eyewear. The new eyewear, just like your new Cerec or E4D, says “I’m current with the times.”
Why Some Team Click – Part 3
Take your job seriously:
Click here for audio: Why Some Teams Click Part 3 Audio
How passionate about dentistry are you? Draw a line in the sand: From a scale of 1-10, where do you put your mark regarding dentistry? No one will be as enthusiastic or passionate as you are; you will not be influential unless you are passionate.
Ask your team: “If this was your practice, what would you do to increase production and decrease overhead?”
Ask them to write down their answers and bring them to the team meeting. Use this as a discussion, an open forum, to talk about improving your practice.
Why Some Dental Teams “Click” and Some Don’t! Part 1
Dental Consulting – How to Coach for Success
By Rhonda R. Savage, DDS
What Does Your Dental Staff Want? Oh No! More Feedback! Yet daily coaching can have a very positive effect on your practice’s team. Tough to do, but well worth the effort: daily positive and negative constructive criticism will build a well functioning, dental practice.
How do you give feedback without your female staff dissolving into tears? There are three techniques to implement that will allow you to give your team the kind of feedback that they not only want, but deserve.
1. Don’t let your frustrations build. Too many of us let feelings build and then past frustrations spill out into today’s problem. If you’re angry…anger either leads to silence or to an unreasonable outburst if we haven’t dealt with issues and let them build up. Everyone knows when someone is upset. Staff, dentists and office managers want to know, not wonder, what’s wrong.
2. Express how you feel daily. Female team members want to go home at night and know everything is ok. Wait until you are not upset. Start by evaluating what you really want out of the situation. Focus on your heart: what are your motives? Do you want to prove the person wrong? Belittle them? Or affect a change that will have a positive result?
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