Your Team's Not Difficult - You're Just Not Listening Yet
Picture this: You’re playing carpool karaoke with your team, and everyone wants to pick the next song. Your Baby Boomer hygienist is belting out "Don’t Stop Believin’." Your Millennial assistant is lobbying hard for an indie band you’ve never heard of. Your Gen Z receptionist just rolled her eyes and said, "Can we please play something from this decade?"
Here’s the thing: different people have different playlists—and that’s exactly what makes your practice stronger. Stop trying to force everyone to sing the same tune! Instead, create individual playlists that speak their language:
Baby Boomers prefer face-to-face interaction. That group text you sent? They didn’t see it. Walk over and actually talk to them.
Gen X wants freedom to function independently. They’re thinking, "Just tell me what needs doing and get out of my way."
Millennials value meaningful work and feedback. They want to know their work matters, and they want to hear about it—regularly.
Gen Zcraves speed, balance, and transparency. If you’re not being direct with them, they’re already mentally checking out.
Add personality styles on top of generational differences, and you’re not just creating a playlist—you’re conducting a symphony. Your "difficult" team member might just need transparency. That "resistant" person might just prefer face-to-face training over digital modules. When people get the support they need, how they need it, they’ll thrive!
When you know your team, you’ll grow your team. And once you find the right rhythm, your whole practice will be singing in harmony.
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.
