One of the biggest challenges dentists have with managing staff conflict is knowing when to say when. Dentists are empathetic by nature, which means they often tolerate an intolerable situation for too long.
I’ve had many conversations with doctors who tell me they pull up to their practice with a knot in their stomach. Inside lurks a team member who is uncooperative, who sets a negative tone for everyone else, or who requires constant supervision. Sometimes it’s more than one person aligned against the doctor and she feels outnumbered in her own practice.
When you are busy seeing patients everyday it is easy to lose track of how long you have tolerated an intolerable situation. And it’s normal to second guess yourself about making a staffing change. So when is it time to say when?
Consider talking with someone outside of the practice who has a fresh set of eyes and a well-rounded perspective. Someone you can trust. One of the primary reasons why dentists seek consulting is due to staff conflict.
The next step is to consider what life would feel like if your team was enthusiastic about patient care, if they were eager to guide patients to schedule for needed treatment, and if they jumped at opportunities to ask for referrals.
Finally, consider why you are settling for less and what it takes to hold yourself and your team to a higher standard. Henry David Thoreau said, “Things do not change; we change.” That change starts when you know when to say when.
Learn more about how we help doctors with dental staff management.