Grocery store runs, school, friendships, holidays, and running a dental practice have all been affected by the coronavirus pandemic in some way. Dealing with the stress of it all isn’t easy for anyone, but especially for those who oversee so many other people as well. As a dentist, it’s your job to lead your team in a positive and uplifting way. In these circumstances, we understand that that is no easy task.

Although it may seem like we’re moving past the pandemic, it is still very real. Nevertheless, we keep moving forward and finding new ways to serve our team members and patients.

If you’re having a hard time thinking of ways to do that, you’ve come to the right place. Here are five tips for creating a positive dental practice environment:

1. Have daily, weekly, or monthly meetings

Meetings sometimes get a bad rep, but they don’t have to be pointless or boring. If you’re purposeful about it, every meeting can be beneficial and fun! Team meetings should consist of four things:

• Review of your mission statement
• Compliments
• Constructive criticism (for the whole team)
• A game or team-building activity

If you stick to these guidelines, we’re sure your team will never dread going to the meetings!

We do recommend that daily meetings are short and to-the-point and always end on a positive note. Save these recommendations for longer weekly or monthly meetings.

2. Celebrate together

Birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, and work and personal accomplishments should all be celebrated in some form or fashion. Create a space in the office where people can write down their accomplishments, their team members’ accomplishments, and birthdays, then find fun and easy ways to celebrate them.

Monthly birthday parties are a great way to celebrate multiple team members at one time. For personal and work accomplishments, acknowledgment during a meeting or a card are simple ways to let them know you care.

3. Give compliments generously

Compliments and encouragement are essential parts of a positive dental practice environment. When you see a member of your team going above and beyond, be sure to acknowledge their efforts. Make it a point to give at least three compliments every day. By doing this, you’re creating an environment where people feel appreciated.

Your dental team members will also be more likely to praise each other, and the positivity will fill your dental practice!

4. Do a team-building activity

Team-building activities should be a regular occurrence during meetings. The thought of putting together a team-building activity can be overwhelming, but the results are worth it! The activity doesn’t need to be elaborate. It can be as simple as playing a game during lunch.

Check out this blog for exciting in-and-out of office activities.

5. Lighten the load

The last thing we want to do is add another thing to your plate. Creating a positive dental practice environment can feel overwhelming. Our team at Dental Practice Enhancement can be your helping hand. We’ll take a look into your dental practice, team members, and routines to help you create an environment where everyone feels respected and valued. In return, you’ll notice that your team is more productive than ever before.

To learn more about our services at Dental Practice Enhancement, contact us today at (833) 373-3678 ext. 1.