Replace the phrase “I’ll have to…” with “I will be more than happy to…” This simple shift in the words you use will send a dramatically different message. If you “have to” do something, it sounds like …

Continue Reading about Replace the phrase “I’ll have to…” with “I will be more than happy to…” →

As a team member, stay focused on practice goals. Ortho practices achieve greater success when all team members know the orthodontist’s goals and what it will take to reach them. If you’re not aware …

Continue Reading about As a team member, stay focused on practice goals. →

Advice for the Orthodontist – Inspire your team. As leaders, doctors can motivate in many different ways. Some use the power of their personality. Others educate their team with practice goals. …

Continue Reading about Advice for the Orthodontist – Inspire your team. →

Keep finding ways to improve the practice. Everything matters in the parent/patient experience. One seemingly little thing can damage how your practice is perceived. It could be a messy reception …

Continue Reading about Keep finding ways to improve the practice. →

Reduce overhead to 49% or less. Every dollar saved on unnecessary expenses is a dollar gained in additional funds for the ortho practice, so review spending carefully to identify “fat” that can be …

Continue Reading about Reduce overhead to 49% or less. →

Communicate collection policies clearly. All practice systems relating to the collection of fees should be detailed in writing. This should then be translated into scripts that the financial …

Continue Reading about Communicate collection policies clearly. →

Performance Target: Generate one referral a year from 40–60% of parents and adult patients. Satisfied parents and patients will usually be happy to recommend your ortho practice to family members, …

Continue Reading about Performance Target: Generate one referral a year from 40–60% of parents and adult patients. →

Advice for the Orthodontist – Put business education on your list of CE priorities. To succeed in the new dental economy, you need more than clinical skills. You also need to know how to manage a team …

Continue Reading about Advice for the Orthodontist – Put business education on your list of CE priorities. →

Choose cooperation, not conflict. Performing your tasks well is one thing. Working well with others is another equally important part of job performance. As happens in any group, friction will …

Continue Reading about Choose cooperation, not conflict. →

React calmly to unfavorable social media reviews. On your practice’s Facebook page, you may see negative comments from time to time. Don’t overreact. Respond to complaints with a positive attitude and …

Continue Reading about React calmly to unfavorable social media reviews. →

“De-bottleneck” your systems. Bottlenecks are inefficiencies that develop in systems over time and slow them down. The goal for ortho offices is to eliminate bottlenecks by redesigning systems. …

Continue Reading about “De-bottleneck” your systems. →

Create written job descriptions that include performance targets. Job descriptions give staff a detailed picture of what’s expected of them and provide the orthodontist and office manager a framework …

Continue Reading about Create written job descriptions that include performance targets. →