2023 Moments Of The Year: Our blooper reel is finally here! Take a trip down memory lane and enjoy some of ACT Dental’s funniest moments from 2023. Let’s step back, have a good laugh, and then step forward into the new year.
Holiday Photo Frustrations: Capturing x-rays and photos of one patients mouth can be a huge challenge. So how do you go about reigning your team in for that one magical holiday moment? #TeamPhotoDrama#DentalHumor#HolidayHumor
Unlocking Dental Success: Embracing Cutting-Edge Science for Better Decision-Making with Dr. John Kois & Christian Coachman on the Best Practices Show Podcast #koiscenter #christiancoachman #digitalsmiledesign
Invest In Your Team Members
People are your practice’s most significant expense. Paying team members and keeping them in your practice takes a lot of money. When payday rolls around, many dentists wonder, “How can I save money?” They think cutting back on team members is the answer. Let me tell you: it’s not!
Dentists think they can do what they do with fewer team members. The thing is, they’ll never be able to run a practice on their own. Every team member’s role is valuable. Yeah, they’re a significant expense you can’t live without.
Team members aren’t a huge cost. They’re a huge investment!
Treating team members like an investment will make them feel valued and appreciated. You have to make people feel like they are essential to the practice’s success (because they do). Treating your team like an investment will make them more comfortable talking about money. Give them room to stand up and ask for a raise!
Dentists Are NOT Used Car Salesmen!
In the patient’s mind, dentists are like used car salesmen. They think you’re just trying to sell them something! You know that’s not true. After all, you didn’t go into dentistry to make money. You did it to help people!
Patients don’t know that. They need to see the value before they can trust you. Would YOU buy something if it seemed worthless? I don’t think anybody would! You know your services are valuable—the trick is getting patients to see that value, too.
Explain to patients why they need treatment. Use radiographs to show what their smile looks like now, and AI imaging to show what their smile could be. Take the time to help patients understand how treatment can improve their lives. Evidence is a sure way to build trust!
Want an example of how NOT to run your practice? Look no further than KB’s used car lot (we had a lot of fun filming that video). All jokes aside, we’ve got some really great tips for boosting perceived value here.
Build trust through value! #actdental
Beware of the Time Burglar in Your Dental Practice!
An unwanted guest is lurking around your practice. You never see him, but he’s always there. It’s the time burglar!
This troublemaker is constantly looking to steal time. Do you know who he steals from the most? Multitaskers. People LOVE to multitask because it makes them feel busy. And people think being active is the same as getting stuff done.
I’ll let you in on a little secret. Busy is actually a lack of focus!
Multitasking wastes time instead of saving it. Multitasking makes you LESS efficient, not more efficient. Multitasking leads to more mistakes, and then you have to spend time fixing those mistakes.
Don’t let the time burglar catch you off guard! Tackle one item on your to-do list at a time. You’ll get stuff done faster, and you’ll make less mistakes. Tell the time burglar he’s not welcome in your practice!
More dentists need to know about the time burglar. He steals from so many dental practices, and we want to end it.
Seasonal Help Wanted: To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the movie ELF, we decided to make a visit and cause a ruckus at the ACT office! @actdental#ElfOnTheShelf#actdental
Onboarding vs. Waterboarding: You just hired a rockstar team member! They have all the qualifications and core values your team is looking for. You’re sure they’ll do an excellent job right from day one. Let me tell you this: that’s not going to happen. The first few weeks are very overwhelming for new hires. They get firehose blasted with information and hardly remember any of it. They have questions they’re too afraid to ask. You put time and effort into the hiring process, but when training the new person, team members say, “I don’t have time for this.”Stop leaving new hires to drown! Just because they have the right expertise doesn’t mean they understand how things work around your practice. Take the time to train them. Encourage questions on BOTH sides (new hires and seasoned team members). You found great people—now help them succeed. You’re not the only person who needs to hear this. Have your team watch our latest video to learn the difference between onboarding and waterboarding. Looking for ways to support your new hire?
How to Roll Your Way to a Good Day - If you’re like most dentists, you’ve got a long to-do list. You stare at it and wonder, “How the heck am I gonna get all this done today?” Try this: start every day with the big six. Rather than bouncing between a bunch of small tasks, narrowing your list down to six big items allows you to tackle one thing at a time. #actdental #betterpracticebetterlife #morninghuddle
Why The World Needs More Giannis: If you know me, you know I love the Milwaukee Bucks. There’s one player I admire the most, and that’s Giannis Antetokounmpo. He’s the type of guy that makes you think, “Man, I want to be like him!” Giannis inspires everyone around him to become a better person. That’s the kind of player you want on your team.
Unfortunately, there’s only one Giannis. He can’t play on every team all at once. What he CAN do is set a good example so others can follow in his footsteps. Coaches don’t choose players–they choose core values.
Your practice works the same way. Okay, maybe dentistry doesn’t make you get up and cheer like sports do. But we can change that! Find team players that bring your values to life. Encourage them to radiate the same excitement and passion everyone feels when Giannis steps onto the court.
You have to live those core values. When you do, people will notice.
It doesn’t matter which team you support. Everyone should be a fan of Giannis.
What is Your Favorite Thanksgiving Desert? The ACT team debates the long standing argument of best dessert for Thanksgiving dinner. Is it apple, pumpkin, pecan or some other concoction? Clearly we’re pretty split on our choice…..What’s yours?
What's In Your Cup? Life will bump into you. When it does, what spills out of your cup? You choose what goes into it, so choose the good stuff: kindness and happiness.