For a great dental practice, think of dentistry as more than clinical care. Excellent customer service, marketing, and management are essential aspects in a successful practice. You have a passion for the clinical side, and your probably love people, as well. Marketing you simply turn over to the experts…but what about management? A positive, friendly attitude is contagious, and patients can sense it from the moment they walk in the door. However, one disgruntled employee can create an infection that can quickly escalate into an epidemic of negativity. How can you foster teamwork within your office? How can you inoculate your team against a bad attitude? To make your employees happy, without giving in to their every whim, communication is key.
In this month’s Dental Office Magazine, Cindy Ishimoto, Certified Dental Practice Management Administrator (CDPMA), authored an article entitled "Unlocking Teamwork Potential: Coaching good people to being great teams." In it, she covers four essential elements of communication in the dental practice:
1) As a leader, be consistent, clear, and courteous.
2) As team members, employees should speak up with respect.
3) Between team members, support, forgiveness, and vulnerability are important.
4) Team members should always be "receptive, realistic, and responsive" to patients.
Simple communication tips include:
1) Focus on the speaker.
2) Look at the speaker.
3) Listen with your eyes, as well as your ears.
4) Take notes to show that you truly care.
5) Repeat the information you received to make sure you understand.
6) Keep your promises.
For more information about team building, read the full article or contact Cindy Ishimoto for consulting services.