My best practices are all defined with these five characteristics:
1. Financially viable through value-based production with customized, individual patient care and comprehensive treatment planning
2. Team engagement with career-based employment and opportunities to grow
3. Exceptional case acceptance and not dependent on volume
4. Referral focused cultures and giving back philosophies of service
5. Continual quarterly growth by focusing on setting goals and taking business seriously
Any practice fitting into this category usually produces somewhere in the $250,000-$500,000 per team member and hitting $10,000-$25,000 some closer to $30,000+ per clinical day … all regardless of size, space, etc.
They all have 3 committed actions and behaviors in common, no matter where they are located or affluence of their communities (and has no dependent on their style, type or approach to dentistry).
1st Obviously, they listen to me and act on what I advise, but they don’t just read stuff for entertainment; they don’t act like they know everything when their performance states otherwise; they are passionate and obsessed over doing better; and they are good patients by doing what the doctor (that’s me) orders.
2nd They challenge each other; they take responsibility; they never blame others or look outside the four walls of their practice for excuses; they own everything (individually and together); they hold each other accountable daily, morning, evening, weekly in meetings and discussions by communicating; and monthly training and strategic planning for what’s next.
3rd and above all else, wrapped around these first two like a blanket, they take care of each other; they spend time outside of dentistry doing things to get to know each other better; they do good old fashioned team building; they don’t treat dentistry as a job they treat it as a career; they realize that it is a vehicle for achieving other things in their life and therefore they had better take care of it because it is taking care of them.
I am not the biggest fan of cheesy woo-woo feel-good team building but you know what: it works and it is necessary. It doesn’t have to be all hugs and rainbows, it can also be intense, it can be based around personal development, it can be tied to practice makes perfect just like sports teams.
The bottom line is this: all great teams do it, without exception.
I wonder how you stack up to these 5 characteristics and 3 actions of what the best and highest performing teams have in common.
You can argue, you can even try to make fun, and you will continue to be disappointed, though you probably make excuses for why it has nothing to do with the people or performance or results or commitment of anyone here, but champions don’t do that… they own it.
Next week, I will share a most amazing and miraculous story about one of the best dental teams on earth and detail exactly what they overcame to now practice these principles.
In the meantime… simple homework, plan your next team building activity, exercise or fun day together and see what happens.
