You’re sitting in the exam room. You listen as a hygienist explains to the patient what’s wrong with a specific tooth. As your hygienist speaks, they stumble over their words, and they forget a couple details.
After the patient leaves, the hygienist comes to you for feedback, and you say with a polite smile, “That was good!”
Don’t say “that was good” if it wasn’t that good!
Too often, dentists sugar coat the truth. They don’t want to sound mean or hurt someone’s feelings. Here at ACT, we have a saying: “It’s better to be clear than be nice.”
The team only improves when you’re honest and clear. Clear isn’t mean; clear is kind!
Be upfront about what they need to work on. When you’re specific, team members know exactly where they stand, and they know what needs to change. Honesty helps them succeed, and when one person succeeds, the whole team succeeds.
There are other times when dentists should cut straight to the chase. If your team is unaligned, you have to be honest and clear about that, too! Check out this quick read on how to align your dental team.
Kirk Behrendt is a renowned consultant and speaker in the dental industry, known for his expertise in helping dentists create better practices and better lives. With over 30 years of experience in the field, Kirk has dedicated his professional life to optimizing the best systems and practices in dentistry. Kirk has been a featured speaker at every major dental meeting in the United States. His company, ACT Dental, has consistently been ranked as one of the top dental consultants in Dentistry Today's annual rankings for the past 10 years. In addition, ACT Dental was named one of the fastest-growing companies in the United States by Inc Magazine, appearing on their Inc 5000 list. Kirk's motivational skills are widely recognized in the dental industry. Dr. Peter Dawson of The Dawson Academy has referred to Kirk as "THE best motivator I have ever heard." Kirk has also assembled a trusted team of advisor experts who work with dentists to customize individual solutions that meet their unique needs. When he's not motivating dentists and their teams, Kirk enjoys coaching his children's sports teams and spending time with his amazing wife, Sarah, and their four children, Kinzie, Lily, Zoe, and Bo.
