The Seven Haibts of Highly Effective Dental Teams

I have had the opportunity to be exposed to a great number of different learning mediums, training programs and influential people. One of the books I had the fortune to read is Steven Covey’s The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. He observed habits that, when embraced, are likely to lead a person towards being more complete, successful and effective.

The seven principles were to be pro-active (a principle of personal vision), begin with the end in mind (the principle of personal leadership), to put first things first (the principle of personal management), to think win-win (the principle of inter-personal leadership), to think first to understand and then to be understood (the principle of empathic communication), to synergize (the principle of creative cooperation), and finally to sharpen the saw (the principle of balanced self renewal). Covey’s book and these seven habits have inspired me to use the same format and to find seven habits embraced by highly effective dental teams as they live and practice with peace of mind.

1) Highly effective teams have highly developed, empathetic communication skills. Recognize that communication skills can be pro-actively developed, practiced and utilized effectively with team members, patients, friends, and families. Communication is a learned activity we can work to develop, enhance and support trusting relationships in dental practices.

2) Highly effective dental teams have a shared philosophy and vision. It is one they all desire and have collaboratively designed to drive the style of the laboratory or practice. The style of the laboratory or practice isn’t by chance.

3) Highly effective teams have discovered that a comprehensive initial examination experience is the best way to set the stage for excellence and to truly get to know your patient and to allow the patient to know you. You should be pro-active about slowing down, talking with your dentist client or patient and discovering together what is going on in that patient’s mouth, general health, life, etc.

4) Highly effective teams aspire to a higher understanding of occlusion and its relative importance to predictability and restorative and periodontal health. This means some pro-active learning and skills attainment for the technician, dentist and supportive care team.

5) Highly effective teams have a well thought out protocol for collaborative interdisciplinary and comprehensive treating planning. They adhere to and enhance systems that ensure excellence in comprehensive treatment

6) Excellence was the table stakes for entry into this game.  Dr. Pankey always said that you had to have it on the shelf.  It is true that we need to develop skills that result in excellent patient care and predictability to be effective.  The comprehensive care model, personalized for each patient provides an opportunity to do what is appropriate and restorative solutions that last.

7) Highly effective teams realize that the art and science of obtaining mastery in dentistry is the result of continuous and never-ending improvement and a quest to be you’re very best. The pro-active journey becomes an objective rather than a destination.
Discuss these highly effective habits (or traits) of successful dental teams in greater detail. Start by asking yourself, “What is the style of my laboratory or practice? Did it happen by design or by chance?” What is it that we hope to accomplish in this business model (after having fun and making money)?  What skill sets will help us get there?