Dr Kinnar Shah
How to Ignite the Spark in Your Dental Team:
The Five C's of Leadership
How to Ignite the Spark in Your Dental Team:
The Five Cs of Leadership
Ever wondered how a simple electric toothbrush can turn a mundane morning routine into a dynamic dance of bristles?
Imagine harnessing a similar spark to supercharge your dental team. A power that doesn’t come from a plug, but from the Five Cs of Leadership.
Stick around, and I promise by the end, you’ll have the formula to make your dental team buzz with unmatched energy.
There’s a lot more to a dental team than just teeth.
There’s heart, soul, and the occasional coffee stain on a tunic.
Keeping your dental team inspired, motivated, and charged isn’t just a matter of offering a good pay (although that certainly helps).
Let’s delve into the true ways to lead, using the 5 C’s: compliments, competence, choice, connection, and contribution.
1. Compliments
Let’s face it, dentistry isn’t the kind of profession where patients walk in saying, “Oh, how I’ve waited for this root canal!”
So, a kind word can go a long way.
Compliments, when genuine, can light up the day faster than a UV curing light.
Recognize your team’s achievements, whether it’s a perfectly executed procedure or the way they comforted a nervous patient.
A simple “Great job!” or “I noticed your effort today” can bring a brighter smile than any whitening treatment.
2. Competence
Ever tried using floss as a replacement for your shoelace? Doesn’t quite work, right?
Similarly, ensuring that each member of your team is trained and competent not only ensures that they feel confident in their abilities but also means they won’t try using floss in odd places.
Regular training sessions, courses, and workshops not only enhance skills but also serve as bonding moments for the team.
Moreover, compliment their competency.
3. Choice
No one likes to be treated like a toothbrush – used for one specific purpose and then put away.
Giving your team choices in their roles, tasks, and even the music played in the background can foster a sense of ownership and responsibility.
It’s the little things that matter. If they want to play “Another One Bites the Dust” every time they complete a procedure, let them! (Within reason, of course.)
4. Connection
A cohesive team is like a perfectly aligned set of teeth, working in harmony and complementing each other.
Cultivating connections – be it through monthly team lunches, occasional outings, or simply spending ten minutes each morning or at lunch time chatting about non-dental things (yes, those exist!) can foster bonds.
And trust me, a team that bonds over the latest Netflix series or debates pineapple on pizza will stand strong during dental emergencies.
Strong connections mean fewer cavities in your team’s dynamics.
5. Contribution
Lastly, make every team member feel that their contribution matters, because it does.
From the receptionist greeting patients with a warm smile to the dental assistant ensuring that all tools are sterilized and ready, each role is vital.
Celebrate the wins, learn from the losses, and grow together.
To me, this final C stands tallest. It’s crucial that my team doesn’t see their role as just another job.
Instead, I want them to feel they’re actively contributing to something grander, embracing a genuine sense of ownership.
In the world of dentistry, where a toothbrush spin can freshen up someone’s morning and where plaque is the only enemy, remember the 5 C’s to lead and inspire.
Now, go back and create a team environment that’s brighter than a freshly polished set of pearly whites!
