You might wonder why I title this \u201cBeing More Purposeful With Patient Interactions\u201d and yet I\u2019m talking about everything BUT patients at the moment.<\/p>\n
You understand that communication is everything. \u00a0In fact, it\u2019s the only thing that defines the \u201cinteractions\u201d with your patients. \u00a0The big problem is when you think of communication only as spoken words.<\/p>\n
Communication is so much more than that. \u00a0The tools available to you to use to be more purposeful with your patient interactions are many. \u00a0They all culminate together to build a truly comprehensive and unique experience for your patients.<\/p>\n
Last week, I said this about preparation: when done right, it makes all the difference. \u00a0Well I double down on that statement when it comes to \u201ccommunication\u201d because it will create the entire perception of what patients remember, what they value, and ultimately what dentistry they decide to do.<\/p>\n
Purposeful in phone calls.<\/p>\n
Purposeful in pre-appointment materials.<\/p>\n
Purposeful in an online experience.<\/p>\n
Purposeful in the interview and the exam.<\/p>\n
Purposeful in the treatment presentation.<\/p>\n
Purposeful in the follow-up.<\/p>\n
To be \u201cpurposeful\u201d is to have a point, a mission, a purpose. \u00a0Just as important, is your ability to CONVEY that purpose to other people. \u00a0You have to have buy in and indoctrination with your team and certainly bring your patients on board with your \u201cpurpose.\u201d<\/p>\n
However \u201cpurposeful\u201d action goes beyond just your purpose and it goes to being more deliberate with what you do.<\/p>\n
I used preparation as the foundation for this last week because to prepare is to be ready for something in an effective and well managed way. \u00a0But before you can even prepare you have to define what we are preparing for. \u00a0What does success look like? \u00a0You have to ask that question as it relates to your \u201cpurpose\u201d and your goals; which then allows you to be PURPOSEFUL with your actions.<\/p>\n
If you were to state your goals right now\u2026<\/p>\n
For the year financially<\/p>\n
For your practice as a whole<\/p>\n
For your clinical philosophy<\/p>\n
For your team<\/p>\n
For your patients<\/p>\n
All of these together would allow us to create a DAILY FOCUS (talked about on Monday in our Weekly Huddles) as to what needs to be accomplished in order to make all of those other things happen.<\/p>\n
You see, this should serve as your compass and point you in the direction of what Purposeful Patient Interaction looks like. \u00a0It\u2019s not just looking them in the eyes, listening and asking questions. \u00a0But that is part of it.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s not just training so your team is competent and confident. \u00a0But that is part of it.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s not just great Triangles of Trust that are well orchestrated and practiced so no patient (and treatment) gets left behind. \u00a0But that\u2019s part of it.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s not just about having checks and balances to make sure every single team member (including yourself) has their KEY priorities and most valuable \u201cpurposes\u201d within their position defined. \u00a0But that\u2019s part of it.<\/p>\n
My point is: you can\u2019t break apart and compartmentalize this thing called PURPOSEFUL INTERACTIONS. \u00a0It is all encompassing for everything you do and every part of what your team and your patients engages with.<\/p>\n
My challenge for you today is very simple and perhaps the most significant thing that I could ever ask you to do\u2026<\/p>\n
Walk through every aspect of your patient experience from your perspective, from your patients\u2019 and from your team\u2019s in order to assess whether it represents YOUR PURPOSE.<\/p>\n
Does it express to your patients what and how you would define YOUR PRACTICE? \u00a0Is it telling them and guiding them on how they could be a good patient for you and for themselves?<\/p>\n
Finally, this week, after reviewing your patient experience you must review your TEAM experience. Yes I said your team experience. \u00a0Your training, interviewing, onboarding, integrating, etc.<\/p>\n
There should be an experience for your team. \u00a0If you want them to know your purpose then you have to start there. \u00a0That ought to give you a lot of food for thought.<\/p>\n
Next week: A VERY BIG ANNOUNCEMENT! \u00a0Maybe the one I\u2019m most excited about and proud of ever!<\/p>\n
In the meantime, please commit to action and decide to be more purposeful WITH EVERYTHING and EVERY PART of your Practice. \u00a0It will make all the difference.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"