You want to show appreciation to your team. So you grab a generic gift card, sign up for that sock-of-the-month club, or maybe splurge on a pizza party.
But here’s the problem: you’re guessing.
Your hygienist might hate pizza. Your assistant might already have 47 Starbucks cards she hasn’t used. Your front desk coordinator might be rolling her eyes at another pair of novelty socks.
Gratitude is a core part of culture, but too often we’re shooting in the dark about what people actually value. Stop guessing and start asking!
Create an Appreciation Cheat Sheet
Here’s a radical idea: ask your team what they like. Create a simple "favorites list" where everyone shares their preferences:
• Favorite coffee shop or restaurant • Hobbies and interests • Preferred gift types (experiences vs. things) • How they like to be recognized (publicly vs. privately)
Post it somewhere everyone can see it and the next time you want to recognize someone, check the list! Your coffee-obsessed assistant gets that local café gift card. Your book-loving hygienist gets the best-seller she’s been thinking about reading. Instantly, recognition means more.
Don’t Wing It—Systematize It
A culture of appreciation can’t be an afterthought. As Dr. Kevin Groth says, you need to learn how to speak appreciation. Make it intentional. Make it personal. Make it count. Start giving in a way people feel. When you stop defaulting to generics and start paying attention to what matters to each person, your appreciation becomes authentic.
Remember to "give greater than get." Your team gives their best to your practice every day. Give them recognition that shows you know who they are.
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.
