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Last Friday in Philadelphia, I had the privilege of speaking on communication in the pediatric dental office. Not clinical technique.Not materials. Communication. After decades in practice, I have learned that communication skills in pediatric dentistry are often the difference between calm resolution and unnecessary conflict. Most conflicts in a pediatric dental office are preventable. They […]
Effective Communication in a Pediatric Dental Practice: Why It Matters Remember the childhood game “telephone”? One simple sentence turns into something completely unrecognizable by the time it reaches the last person. It’s funny in elementary school. It’s far less amusing in a pediatric dental practice. Miscommunication in a dental office can lead to confused parents, […]
Picture this: It’s Monday morning. You walk into the office and everything is already humming. The ops are set up, your staff is on time, the schedule is full (and booked out for months!), and there’s even a waiting list. The team is reviewing today’s patients, making sure they understand the needs of each child […]
We all get angry. But when stress runs high—like during the busy summer months in a pediatric dental office—those emotions can bubble over more quickly than we’d like. This quick quiz isn’t about judgment; it’s a tool to help you check in with yourself, recognize signs of rising frustration, and take small steps toward healthier […]
Almost everyone pursues perfection — doing the best job you can, setting goals and working hard to reach them, maintaining high standards. But perfectionism isn’t about any of this. Perfectionism is a long, maddening drive down a never-ending road for flawlessness; it provides no rest stops for mistakes, personal limitations or the changing of minds. […]
Have you ever noticed how GOOD it feels to be really listened to? It’s impactful, particularly when the listening goes beyond just the words you’re speaking. That kind of artful listening conveys respect and value to the speaker, and promotes positive relationships of all kinds. And, like any art, it takes practice. According to widely […]
Joanna and Cyndi are sitting at a coffee shop. Joanna has just gone through a divorce and is telling her friend all about it. To a casual observer, it looks as if Cyndi is listening. But take a look at the thoughts running through Cyndi’s head: Really, people get divorced all the time; it’s time […]
Whether you work with others, or alone, you may still suffer from the “Lone Ranger Syndrome”—that managerial malaise that causes folks to work excessively long, hard hours because only THEY know how to do something right. Whoa, Silver! There is a cure. Effective delegation is a learnable time management skill that can dramatically increase […]
In a world filled with constant conversation, embracing the idea of waiting before we speak can be a game-changer. I recently read a piece on the importance of “waiting to speak”,and as the holidays approach with gatherings of family, friends, and colleagues, I thought this concept was worth sharing. This approach is especially valuable not […]
Pay, praise and promotions may have some effect on motivation levels in the workplace. But these three Ps pale in comparison to more personal factors, such as the Top 5 of the oft-cited research by Rewick and Lawler: job challenge, accomplishing something worthwhile, learning new things, developing skills and abilities, and autonomy. Take this […]