It's All In Your Head

I recently received a call from a doctor that was desperate for office manager training. He literally said that she was rough around the edges, disrupting the office vibe, and that other team members were starting to quit.   My first thought was 'why is she still there?' Then I read on... he said he knew it would be best to just find someone else, but he was about to go on vacation for two weeks, and the timing was horrible.  Wow.  

I asked him a few questions... 'What is she going to think if you single her out for coaching?' 'How well do you suppose her training will 'stick' if the rest of the team doesn't know what's involved?' 'How committed will she be if you aren't involved?'  

It's so tempting to just send someone to get 'fixed'. But the reality in this situation and many others, is that the culture of the practice is sick.  Leadership is lacking.  The standards of the practice. are low, inconsistent, or even non-existent. Any training that takes place is 'on-the-job' when we have time.  Vision is unclear. There's no accountability because those tough conversations are being avoided and conflict is averted at all costs.  

You can put great team members in a sick culture and end up with a mediocre team - you can take a mediocre team and put them in a healthy culture and end up with a great team! 

Maybe you need to have a tough conversation.  Or it could be that you're blaming other people or your circumstances for your lack of success. Avoidance of conflict and refusal to take personal responsibility - let's just call it what it is - dysfunction.  

Change your mind, change your practice (and life). 

Change is mental, emotional, habitual and behavioral. You cannot change the course of your dental practice until you change your mind.  In reality, success - or lack thereof - is all in our head!  Whether you are wanting to increase case acceptance, decrease stress or collect more, your success hinges on YOUR desire to change. 

Your desire to change must be greater than your desire to remain status quo.  As long as you are holding on to 'the way we've always done it', or you have a habit of playing the 'what if?' game, or allow fear to drive decision-making, you'll never move forward.  I'm not just referring to more financial success... but also for an improved, healthy culture that makes it FUN to go to work! 

If you believe that change will be difficult, you will find it difficult.  If you believe that those changes and improvements will challenge you in a way that results in sustainable fulfillment and reward, you will be AMAZED at the confidence and joyfulness you will gain.  

So many of us are negative focused - we look for and expect the worst in every experience.  We can always find something we don't like if we look hard enough! 

Kill the ANTs.

Did you know that it's human nature to be skeptical?  Our brain is wired to generate dozens of negative thoughts ever hour. These pesky thoughts are called 'ANTs' (Automatic Negative Thoughts).  They occur without any effort at all. 

On the other hand, positive thoughts must be intentional.  When we understand that we're hard wired for negativity, we can make a conscious effort to put our focus and attention toward the benefits that will be gained by your commitment to a growth mindset instead of playing defense with the ANTs. This is why we always suggest you start your weekly vision session with 'what's going well?'  Your Evening huddle is a built-in forum for positivity.  When you're intentional and look for the good, and then share it at the end of the day, it's so much more fun to get up and do it again the next day. 

Show up with constructive focus.

Sustainable change in your dental practice is much like a lifestyle change when it comes to achieving and maintaining a healthy weight.  If you cheat, you won't do very well. If you pick and choose things on the meal plan based on your likes and dislikes, you will fail.  YOU are 100% in control of the outcome.   If you show up and do what we ask of you, you WILL succeed.  This statement isn't driven by arrogance, but by the results of hundreds of dental practices over the last 30 years that have made the decision to change.  Only then will you find value in the coaching, support, resources, training and accountability provided by Team Brady. 

If you approach Brady Group coaching (or any opportunity to change) with a little finger's worth of desire, commitment and determination, you will get a little finger's worth of results. But if you approach it with your whole heart and mind, your benefit will exceed your expectations. 

Make yourself a promise to dedicate time to work ON your practice.  

If you're 'too busy' to do the things that will bring sustainable success, all that tells me is that you are a poor manager of your time.  No excuses! no whining!  Excuses and procrastination are a major cause of stress and ultimately enemy of progress. 

How much time is necessary? 

• Set aside an hour/week for effective vision sessions
• Get away from the office to attend training events - be sure it's a good mix of smart and healthy (clinical vs. team building/culture/systems) 
• Plan a minimum of 2 hours for your Mid-Year Check Up in July
• Plan a full day 'State of the Practice' Day toward the end of the year

Do you have the guts?

The Brady Group is here to help you succeed. If you've been around for any period of time, you know that we sincerely care about you as individuals. But your desire to change must be greater than the excuses and self-sabotage that's taking place. There's a fine line between tough love and enabling.  If you are paying for coaching in hopes that we will just tell you what you want to hear, you won't do so with the Brady Group.   We've discovered that the only thing that will work is your commitment and determination to change your mind.  It really is that simple.  

We have the information and inspiration if you've got the guts. 

Let's go.