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10 Ingredients to a Satisfying Job
During 15 years in dental consulting and 24 years in the dental business, I have asked hundreds of dental team members all across the country:
What Does Your Ideal Practice Position Look Like?
What follows is the top 10 list of the most shared ingredients that every satisfying dental team position must have. Please note that these are not ranked in any particular order.
1. The workload must always be interesting and challenging. Employees in health-related jobs chose dentistry because the people you come in contact with everyday make the work different. Most dental employees, when taking a personality test, rank highest in the area of "influencing of others," and are very "people oriented."
2. Employees feel they are important as individuals. The top 20 percent of dental practices know that in today's dental environment there is a "lateral level of leadership." Everyone is important to the team and the team makes up the well-oiled gestalt called a practice. Each team member should take charge of their area of expertise and be accountable to each other. Each member must also "lead by example."
3. Providing feedback in performance. It is good business to periodically sit down the team and complete what is called a "personal, professional interview.” The purpose of this meeting is to communicate and explore all strengths, weaknesses and concerns as a list of solutions are committed to paper.
4. Rewards that are strongly related to performance. The most fundamental management principle states, “What gets rewarded, gets done.” It is just human nature to look forward to something. Remember that rewards come in all shapes and sizes. A program that rewards its team members for a job well done will always produce a happy, motivated team.
5. A team that is good at setting goals. "Define the direction" is really all that the motivated, organized team needs to remember. The team will list the priorities that must be accomplished to reach each goal.
6. Create a sense of passion. Everyone needs to feel important, but remember, "What goes around comes around." It is essential that a team member puts “passion” into his or her position. Then the attitude, compassion and confidence will loudly come through over and over again.
7. Opportunity for advancement. Advancement in dentistry can in some cases be almost impossible if you don't continue to improve your level of academic education. However, we can take a more active role moving into other management areas within the practice. For example: The hygienist takes responsibility for the bleaching program, or an assistant develops a nutritional counseling program for the patients.
8. Getting along with the team. A successful person must a feel that they are a part of a loving “family” in the dental office. Since we spend the largest part of our day with co-workers, we better get along with everyone most of the time.
9. Having a management team that avoids “Crisis Management.” Putting out fires is not fun, nor does it help to improve the practice over time. Meet obstacles head on by scheduling monthly departmental meetings between the departmental heads of dental hygiene, dental assisting, and front practice coordinators with the doctor. Overcome the problems and put a plan of action to paper that will keep you moving ahead in the appropriate direction.
10. Having management that appreciates its employees. Life is short and while you are working in the dental field to fulfill a life-long dream, you should always associate with people just like you. Remember, "Like hangs around with like."
Just remember, "Always give people more than they expect and the rewards of success will always be yours!"
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