Every practice has a culture. It’s not just about what you say in team meetings or how you behave towards patients; it’s built on the habits no one talks about, the routines that formed without intention, and the behaviors that became norms.
Now, the question: is the culture you have today the one you want? If you find yourself wishing your culture was different, you need to be intentional about changing it. That means building a bridge from where you are to where you want to be.
Two Sides, One Choice
On the near side is where you are right now. Maybe communication breaks down between the front desk and the back office? Maybe feedback gets avoided because it’s easier than being uncomfortable? Maybe follow-through is inconsistent, and everyone’s learned to work around it?
On the far side is where you want to be. A team that communicates clearly without second- guessing. A culture where honest feedback strengthens relationships instead of damaging them. A practice where people do what they say they’ll do, every single time.
The bridge between them? That’s the work.
Start Laying the Planks
Building a bridge to better workplace culture requires a playbook: clear communication, honest feedback, and dependable follow-through. Not occasionally. Consistently.
What does that look like? It’s the morning huddle where problems get named, not buried. It’s the direct conversation about the missed sterilization protocol instead of the passive-aggressive comment later. It’s doing the chart review you committed to, even when the day gets busy.
Every intentional action is equivalent to laying a plank, and every time you choose clarity over comfort, you make the bridge stronger.
So which side is your team standing on? The side where culture happens to you, or the side you’re intentionally building toward? The bridge won’t build itself. Start laying those planks!