993: Team Conflicts Aren't the Problem – Avoiding Them Is – Michelle Wakeman

Avoiding conflict is like ignoring a cavity — it will eventually become a crisis! In this episode, Kirk Behrendt brings in Michelle Wakeman, one of ACT’s amazing coaches, to share the right way to address conflict so your team and practice can function at their best. To learn how to proactively manage conflict as a leader, listen to Episode 993 of The Best Practices Show!

Learn More About Michelle:

• Send Michelle an email: michelle@actdental.com 
• Follow Michelle on ACT’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/actdental
• Send Gina an email to learn more about ACT: gina@actdental.com 

More Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life:

• Subscribe to The Best Practices Show: https://the-best-practices-show.captivate.fm/listen
• Join The Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpa
• Download ACT’s BPA app on the Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/best-practices-association/id6738960360
• Download ACT’s BPA app on the Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.actdental.join&hl=en_US
• Join ACT’s To The Top Study Club: https://www.actdental.com/ttt
• Get The Best Practices Magazine for free: https://www.actdental.com/magazine
• Please leave us a review on the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-best-practices-show-with-kirk-behrendt/id1223838218

Episode Resources:

• Watch the video version of Episode 993: https://www.youtube.com/@actdental/videos
• Join ACT’s BPA for their Awareness Wheel resource: https://join.actdental.com/users/sign_in?post_login_redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fjoin.actdental.com%2Fc%2Fpractice-coaching-tools%2Fthe-awareness-wheel#email
• Join ACT’s BPA for their Guide to Building Trust: https://join.actdental.com/users/sign_in?post_login_redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fjoin.actdental.com%2Fc%2Fpractice-coaching-tools%2Fa-team-playbook-to-maximize-performance-handout#email
• Join ACT’s BPA for their How Trustworthy Are You? resource: https://join.actdental.com/users/sign_in?post_login_redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fjoin.actdental.com%2Fc%2Fpractice-coaching-tools%2Fhow-trustworthy-are-you#email
• Read books by Patrick Lencioni: https://www.tablegroup.com/books
• Learn more about the EOS system https://www.eosworldwide.com

Main Takeaways:

• When you avoid, ignore, or mishandle conflict, it always leads to crisis.
• Have healthy conflict, not artificial harmony or destructive fighting.
• Healthy conflict can only exist when you’ve developed trust.
• Give grace, assume good intentions, and be curious.
• Address conflict early. Never let them fester.

Snippets:

0:00 Introduction.

1:41 Why this is an important topic.

4:24 Patrick Lencioni's conflict continuum, explained.

8:46 Healthy conflict is built on a foundation of trust.

13:20 How to address conflict in a healthy way.

19:17 Final thoughts.

21:39 ACT’s BPA and resources.

Michelle Wakeman, BSDH, Bio:

Michelle Wakeman, BSDH, brings nearly 20 years of clinical dental hygiene, administrative, managerial, and sales experience to the table. She has a passion for people and a natural aptitude for communication that has led her to develop meaningful relationships throughout her career in dentistry. As a coach, she seeks to help dental practices develop systems that enable them to enhance their patient experience, leading to better relationships among owners, team members, and patients, along with profitable outcomes.

In her off time, Michelle can usually be found at the ice rink supporting her son, Hunter, in hockey, the ball field cheering on her son, Carter, or the gym, reliving her days as a gymnast with her daughter, Leighton.