What are you getting out of that conference?
March 4th, 2010
We’re now in the midst of convention season. You and your team are probably planning a trip to a meeting in your region and you want to make the most of it. Traveling to conventions can be an excellent opportunity to learn as well as have some quality time building relationships with your team.
While you do want to have fun, I bet learning is your primary objective for these trips. Here are 4 steps to getting the most out your next dental conference.
Figure out the why
Why are you going? Your first answer may be to get your CE for the year. But I want you to think a little deeper than that. Have you heard about a new product or procedure that you’d like to learn about? Take a look at the schedule of courses ahead of time and plan which ones you’ll attend.
Think about how you’ll implement what you learn. If you’re going to learn more about Risk Assessment, for instance, do a little research and find a couple articles to read before the seminar. This will allow you to have a basic knowledge of the topic and hear different points of view. How will this new knowledge make a difference in the way you practice? Just think about it and look for answers throughout the program, making notes along the way.
Go In Prepared
Before hitting the exhibit halls, create a list of products or equipment you want to check out. Break up into groups of 2 or 3 to ’shop’ the hall and tackle your list. Give the vendors a chance to educate you on their product and don’t be afraid to kindly question its use in real practice. Figure out how you’ll use it to make your job easier and deliver better care. Again, arming yourself with a little information before you go will help you to ask the right questions.
If there are large purchases you’re considering, set up, in advance, meetings at the convention with several reps in the same category of the product or equipment you’re considering. This way you don’t have to fight the crowds and you can get the time and information you need to make the best decision.
Re-group
At the end of each day, plan a time to re-group with your team or a few colleagues if you’re going solo. Dedicate the first 30-45min to discuss what you learned or what new products you discovered. Report the estimated cost of implementing if you can and how it will improve efficiency and service.
Have each group of 2-3 report their findings to the group. Then assign one person in each group to be responsible for following through on the new ideas once you return back to the office.
Create your action plan
Before you return home to your busy work life, set aside and hour or two to create an action list based on what you learned at the conference. Note what action you’ll take-order product, implement new diagnostic or operative techniques. Determine who will be accountable for moving it forward and a date by when the action will be taken.
On a sheet of paper, draw 3 columns:
What? Who? By When?
Take this back to the office, take action and you’ll have a return on your convention investment like never before.
Stay Inspired,
Rachel
Inspired Hygiene
Full Today, No Show Tomorrow: Stop the Roller Coaster
February 19th, 2010
Do you ever feel like you’re on a roller coaster? One day the schedule looks great and then you come in the next morning and
it falls apart.
Think of all the hours you and your team spend on recovering from those days. Think about what you could be doing with all that time…marketing your practice, taking care of patients, following up on unscheduled treatment. There are so many things more productive then rebuilding your schedule from scratch.
If this sounds familiar, you’ve got to be on this month’s High Performance Hygiene Mastermind call when I interview Linda Miles. As you know, Linda is one of the most well-known and successful dental management consultants of all time! She’s coached thousands of practices and on this call I’m going to get her to reveal all her secrets on how to create a ‘zero defect’ day. She’s brilliant, fun and I can’t wait for this call.
I hope you’ll join us.
Stay inspired!
Rachel
Are you tired of the negativity?
February 11th, 2010
I’m here with my Mastermind group again. This time we’re in a ritzy hotel in Orlando and it’s so nice to have some sunny weather. We’re about three quarters of the way through the year-long program and this experience has been so powerful for me! I think the key is having not only a coach but a group of like-minded business people to hole me accountable to doing what I say I’m going to do.
As we all present our progress with our businesses, we are also coached on the ‘stuff’ that sometimes holds us back to really reaching our potential. We all have it and it comes up for all of us in different ways!
I recently worked with one of my clients on clearing the negative energy that everyone on the team was feeling. As we moved through the workshop, I could feel the barriers within their team come down as they worked through the negativity that was invading their team. They were playing together again and it was so inspiring. This breakthrough is critical for them to reach their service and production goals.
So for this week, I’m going to again ask you to share your thoughts with me. There’s no survey to complete, just send an email to Rachel@InspiredHygiene.com. Here’s what I’d like to hear from you:
What ‘negative talk’ are you tired of hearing from yourself or your team? It could be about teamwork or why you might not always present the best treatment to patients. It could be about being burnt out or being afraid the patient will say no. It could be something negative you believe about your employees or your boss. Whatever it is, I want to hear it.
And then, I’m going to help you learn how to turn it into something positive and powerful. And it won’t cost you a dime!
I can’t wait to hear what you have to say!
Stay Inspired,
Rachel
www.InspiredHygiene.com
Andrew’s 1st walk on the beach
January 21st, 2010
Each January, Matt and I get together with the same 12 couples for a beach trip. You heard me right…a beach trip in January. So this past weekend, we headed down to Isle of Palms, SC and we had a blast. And we got lucky with a couple days of sunny, warm weather. It felt so good after the frigid temps we’ve had here in the south that we took Andrew for his first walk on the beach.
Stay Inspired,
Rachel
You’ve asked me, so here you go!
January 18th, 2010
I’ve recently had many of our readers ask about my upcoming speaking schedule. Well, I’ve mentioned in the last couple e-zines that 2010 has started off with a bang and now you’ll see why. I’m honored to be doing a few tele-classes and webinars with some of the “Big Names” in the dental consulting industry. I wanted to let you know about three learning opportunities in January that could change the way you and your hygiene team take care of patients.
January 21, 2010 at 1:00pm Eastern I’m interviewing Mark Dilatush of New Patients Inc. We’ll be discussing “Patient Retention: Closing the Back Door“. To listen in on this call as part of your 2 month trial membership to our High Performance Hygiene Mastermind group, click here.
January 27, 2010 at 2:00pm Eastern Dr. Rhonda Savage of Miles & Associates is hosting my webinar “Stop Losing Thousands in Undiagnosed Perio Disease“. To register, click here.
January 28, 2010 at 8:00pm Eastern Woody Oakes and I will reveal “The 13 Biggest Hygiene Mistakes and How to Avoid Them“. This LIVE tele-class is F*R*E*E. To register go to www.13HygieneMistakes.com.
Stay inspired,
Rachel
Relationships
January 14th, 2010
Have you ever noticed that one sign of a true friend is that no matter how long you’ve been apart, when you’re reunited you can pick up right where you left off?
Last week, I had so much fun reconnecting with my best hygiene school friends. When we were together the years just melted away and it was like we were back in school 20 years ago. We’re planning for another get together soon and for our 20 year reunion next year.
With your patients, it is critical for you to build and nurture the relationship you have with them so that you stay connected during the months they are away.
Dental teams often don’t know how many of their patients they are retaining and I routinely see practices that have only 30-40% of their patients in recare.
This month on our High Performance Hygiene Mastermind call, I ‘m interviewing a true marketing expert and together we’ll share with you the key to retaining patients and how to know if they are coming in the front door and walking right out the back. Don’t miss this call!
Stay inspired!
Rachel
