You’ve got an idea, and you think it’s brilliant. Your team will feel the same, right?
Well, maybe not at first. No matter how brilliant your idea is, change can scare people.
You might think, “I’m excited about this idea! Why aren’t they?”
The game plan is mapped out in your head. You see how the idea will benefit your practice in the long run. Your team doesn’t share the same level of excitement because they can’t read your mind!
People must warm up to change. And it happens in five stages:
Awareness: Tell the team about your idea.
Understanding: Slowly walk them through your thought process. Break things down, and go at their pace, not yours!
Acceptance: Give people space to accept that change is coming. Some jump on board faster than others, so give it time.
Commitment: Allow team members to support your idea through actions that feel right to them.
Advocacy: Ask supporters to explain your idea to those who are still hesitant. Remember, there’s strength in numbers!
The team isn’t resisting your idea. Everyone starts at a different stage, and that’s okay. Don’t rush change, lead it!
Once you create that change, it has to stick. Courtney Dalton, one of our many incredible coaches, outlines three core steps to take for lasting change.
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.
