Together, We’ll Navigate This Stormy Dental Employee Climate
August 21, 2024
Most dental practices feel they are still caught in this stormy climate when hiring of dental employes.
Let’s shine some light on this chronic challenge because finding the right people for your team is achievable. It just requires a sharper focus on your hiring and management strategies.
If you’re struggling to bring new team members on board, it likely boils down to one or all of these five key issues. Together let’s navigate this stormy weather in your dental employee hiring process.
Below are 5 key points to look at when navigating the storm.
Do you resonate with any of these 5?
- Your Mindset
- You’re not finding the right people.
- You’re holding on to the wrong people for too long.
- Your dental office culture or reputation needs improvement.
- Your onboarding and training processes need enhancement.
Let’s break these down and together, we will navigate a stormy dental employee climate.
1. Mindset
A positive mindset is a powerful tool that can significantly influence our journey toward success. When we approach challenges with optimism, we are more likely to see opportunities where others might see obstacles. This mindset fosters resilience, allowing us to bounce back from setbacks and maintain focus on our goals.
Moreover, a positive outlook will enhance your problem-solving abilities and creativity, enabling people to devise innovative solutions. By believing in your potential and staying motivated, you create an environment where success becomes not just a possibility, but a probability. Ultimately, a positive mindset is the foundation upon which sustained success is built.
2. Find the Right People
While it’s impossible to guarantee a perfect hire every time, there are strategies to increase your chances of success during the interview process:
A Can Do Attitude:
Look for candidates who are eager to learn and grow, regardless of their educational background. A person who is adaptable and can turn training into action is invaluable. During the interview, explain the job clearly and gauge how well they retain and apply the information.
Initiative:
Seek out individuals who show genuine interest in the role and who proactively contribute ideas. During your conversation, pay attention to whether they engage thoughtfully and offer constructive suggestions. You’re looking for creativity and positive contributions, not just someone who follows instructions mechanically.
Communication Skills:
Communication is crucial in a dental office. A good candidate should be able to listen well, understand instructions, follow their leaders directions, and communicate clearly with their team members and the patients. During the interview process, observe how the candidate manages the flow of conversation—are they too hesitant or overly talkative? Striking the right balance is key.
The Interview Process:
Finding the right fit most likely requires interviewing many candidates. It’s time-consuming, but putting in the effort upfront can save you from future headaches. If you rush through the process, you risk hiring someone who doesn’t fit, leading to more time wasted later on.
“Hire slow, fire fast.”
~ Eban Pagan
2. Let Go of the Wrong People
No matter how thorough your hiring process is, sometimes you’ll hire someone who isn’t the right fit. That’s okay. The real mistake is keeping someone on board who isn’t meeting expectations, despite training and correction.
If a team member continues to underperform or disrupts the office dynamic, it’s time to let them go. Holding on to the wrong person can harm morale and productivity. By making tough decisions early, you can maintain a positive environment where your team can thrive.
3. Create a Positive Dental Office Culture
A strong office culture can make hiring easier and improve staff retention. If your employees love their jobs and your patients notice the positive atmosphere, word will spread. This kind of reputation attracts people who genuinely want to be part of your team.
Culture starts with you, the practice owner. Reflect on your behavior—do you lead by example? Do you foster a supportive environment where employees feel safe to communicate and grow? Building a positive culture involves recognizing achievements, setting goals, and ensuring everyone understands their role in improving patients’ lives.
4. Structured Training
Effective training goes beyond having a new hire shadow a colleague for a few days. Training should be gradual and comprehensive, covering everything from basic dental terminology to specific job duties.
Start with the basics and build from there. Even experienced hires can benefit from reviewing key terms and policies. Having clear, written training materials or videos helps ensure consistency and clarity. Consider an “apprenticeship” approach where new hires practice job functions under supervision until they’re fully confident.
Use competency-based training. At Dental Practice Solutions our training is competency-based with a list of what is expected and a checklist to understand when your employee shows they are competent.
Consider expert support when hiring top-notch employees. There are experts who take time to understand. your dental office philosophy and will find the perfect candidate. A dental coach-consultant will be there to guide your candidate through their onboarding process and work as an accountability partner, aligning them within your team, and before their 3-month pr0bation period they will be a confident team member.
Summary
While hiring and training new team members can be challenging, the biggest mistake is not in hiring the wrong person but in keeping them too long. If someone isn’t a good fit, let them go and continue searching for those who will truly add value to your team. This is why you must have a 3-month probation period. This is where experts can actually save you time and money during your new hire search process.
If you’re serious about creating a well-organized dental practice with an efficient, productive team, consider seeking additional resources and guidance to enhance your hiring and training processes.
Dental Practice Solutions has now partnered with a dental focused agency who has candidates waiting to find their perfect “home.” When using our services you can feel relaxed and assured that you have professional recruiters who will find top-notch employees that align with your philosophy of care (We have a range or candidates from dental assistants, dental hygienists, front office employees, and even dentist associates) and a coach to support the new hire as they learn what is expected of them as an employee in your office.
Together, the professional dental staffing business combined with Dental Practice Solutions coaching will find your next qualified team member and included is a 60-Day Guarantee with 2 Months No-Cost Coaching.
Note: There are dental hygienists and dentists who have recently passed their boards and await your inquiry to be hired.
Consider booking a call and find out more about this dental employee hiring service.