I think the first thing you’ll realize is that just scheduling the call says something is not quite right in your practice and you’re open to new possibilities. But you’re not alone. Sad but true, the majority of Endos I have asked to rate their practice satisfaction level from 1 to 10 replied “4 or 5.”
Hearing those numbers makes we wonder if we have an epidemic on our hands. An epidemic at least partially of our own making. We were educated and trained to be dentists and healers but the truth is we must also be business leaders in order for our practices to be profitable and enjoyable. That doesn’t mean we have to have our fingers in the day-to-day operation of our practice, but we must set expectations and determine direction; “hire right;” put star staff members in the most important positions; and make ongoing training an essential component of our practice.
What is your level of enthusiasm and enjoyment in your practice?
That one 30-minute phone call could open your eyes to the areas that need rethinking; which staff members are meeting your standards; why you’re working more hours than you’d like; why your schedule is so unpredictable; and why, bottom line, you can’t give your satisfaction level a 9-10. Many endodontists are so busy meeting patient and staff demands that they lose track of the very reason they became an endodontist in the first place.
Something to explore together? If you are using or considering non-instrumentation, are you using it to its best advantage?
The biggest change I made to my practice is that I use GentleWave 99% of the time. It has made me more efficient and, for me, provides the patient with a much better outcome. But just having the equipment in your office does not guarantee success. A big element of my Endo2Endo coaching, if you are open to non-instrumentation, is to help you integrate it into your daily practice. I’m very interested in your thinking on this.
Let me suggest a little homework before our call
Walk around your practice and look at everything objectively. Do staff members look harried? Are people making your job easier or harder? Are patients being treated with warmth and efficiency and were they prepared for their procedures before the day of? Are phone calls being answered as you want them to be? Are lots of mistakes being made? Is your schedule well organized or confusing? Just observe. Those observations will help us start the process of practice improvement.
I invite you to schedule time with me. Learning about you and your practice is what excites me about the coaching work I do.