Dentaltown December 2017 - 80

Communicate
Constant communication is key in any relationship, and your
dental team is no different. Remain vigilant of your overall vision
and hold regular meetings to stay focused on your goals. Don't let
time or the lack of it get in the way of regular meetings as a team.
Morning huddles. Hold daily morning huddles with a focus on
making sure the day stays as stress-free and productive as possible.
Have key points to cover during the morning huddle; keep it brief
and on topic.
Monthly team meetings. Once a month set aside a few hours
to hold a team meeting that lets the group participate and engage
in a session that's both fun and productive. Cover items that need
to be discussed as a group, but also target one area to focus on that
will allow the group to improve skills and work as a team. Adding
activities to these meetings can help bring out new ideas, excitement
and a renewed sense of community. Don't be afraid to have a little
fun occasionally.
Visual goal monitor. Create a visual reminder of goals and
bonus progress. This should be creative and easy to read. Have
the team participate in the creation and update of the visual tool.
Make it fun!
Vision board. Create a vision board for the entire team. Have
them place pictures that represent their visions. Create a visual
reminder for why they do what they do on a daily basis.
Education. Look for learning opportunities in your dental
community that meet the objectives of your vision for the practice.
Online learning can be an effective way to give the team opportunity
to learn a new skill or increase their software knowledge. Host a
lunch-and-learn. Invest in training on an annual basis and give your
team opportunities to learn and grow with you. A well-educated team
with solid systems and good technology tools behind them makes
for a productive stress-free day
for everyone.

80

DECEMBER 2017 // dentaltown.com

Coach
"The leaders who work most effectively, it seems to me, never
say 'I.' And that's not because they have trained themselves not to
say 'I.' They don't think 'I.' They think 'we'; they think 'team.'
They understand their job to be to make the team function.
They accept responsibility and don't sidestep it, but 'we' gets the
credit. This is what creates trust, what enables you to get the task
done." -Peter Drucker
Finally, but perhaps most importantly, every team still needs a
great coach to be successful. You set the tone for the practice and
it will be your consistent message and actions that guide the team
to success. Keep them engaged, keep them focused and keep them
excited to be a part of the practice's success and they will believe
in the goals you've set.
Like any great coach, you need to be the playmaker. You set
the tone and provide the plan and then let your team carry out the
action. But for your team to carry out the action well, you need to
have well-defined systems. Good systems in a dental practice can
predict a steady outcome. Make sure you have a system manual up
to date with your current procedures. System manuals are meant
to be updated on a regular basis and probed for inefficiencies. Do
an audit of your manual:
* Is it up to date?
* Does it define the team members who execute each system?
* Who is the backup team member for each system?
* Are the systems documented in a clear format?
* Is it still in printed format or electronic?
Establishing great systems and calling the plays
will you get you halfway, but to be a great coach, you
also need to make sure your leadership is consistent.
Your team should always feel comfortable and willing
to approach you, whether it is with problems they've
encountered, or new ideas that could make a positive
difference in the practice.
With all the effort and scrutiny placed on all
aspects of your practice, don't forget to also look at
yourself, what you're bringing to the table and how you
might become an even better coach to your team. ■
http://www.dentaltown.com
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Dentaltown December 2017
