I have compared the dental practice to a football team before – My husband is the defensive coordinator for a local high school football team – He has been engaged in football for the past 27 years non-stop and some consider him to be one of the top 10 defensive coordinators in North East OH. His passion for football is such a driving force, and he reads the game like none other. Our experience and conversation last night led to the inspiration of this blog.
We all know a great football play is preceded by what?…….Yes, a HUDDLE. Champion dental practices start their days out with a Morning Huddle!!
We have a fantastic morning huddle information form that practices use across the United States, and many ideas on how to make them not only resourceful, but creative, fun and team motivating as well! (If you are interested please feel free to send me a DM!)
WOW! That was huge eye opener number one for me. You must break down your daily practice “plays” – to “atta boy” the great plays and adjust the challenging ones.
Second eye opener – when we came home my husband said “Ya know, Gary got me to thinking, and to add on to his reference – what we use every day is the saying “Coach it or allow it” – Meaning if there is a behavior or skill that needs tweaked, adjusting, even if its an attitude – on the football field you either A) Coach it to make it better and provide tools for success or B) You allow it.
This certainly pertains to the inner workings of the dental office as well! I rolled this around my brain as I went to bed last night…. COACH IT or ALLOW IT. WOW! That is HUGE!
Someone is late? Well, you either COACH IT or ALLOW IT!
Someone has a bad attitude? COACH IT or ALLOW IT!
Someone answering the phone like the most unhappy, crab ever? COACH IT or ALLOW IT!
Someone keeps forgetting everything you need on your crown set up tray? COACH IT or ALLOW IT!
Someone not owning their job/responsibility 100% or is just a time clock puncher? COACH IT or ALLOW IT!
Someone has a ME attitude and not a TEAM attitude? COACH IT or ALLOW IT (and this is NEVER allowed on a football field of winning teams!)
You get the picture – If you are not coaching the changes you want to see in your practice, you are ALLOWING things to remain the same.
If you are viewing certain behaviors or skills (or lack thereof) in your practice every day – (You know those seemingly minute infractions that really seem to irritate you every day and for some strange reason you haven’t done anything about them, maybe in the hopes that miraculously tomorrow’s plays will somehow correct themselves? Yeah. Those things.) and don’t do anything about it – you let it continue to frustrate you or give you headaches…
It’s all on you. COACH IT or ALLOW IT.
You may be up in the 4th quarter, with 5 minutes to go, and everyone thinks they can relax and become lackadaisical but guess what. There is always ONE patient that can be the game changer (the no-show 3pm appt) and you have to always be in game mode to ensure your daily touchdowns! Make it happen!
Here’s to many touchdowns, play-off appearances and a winning team attitude for your practice!
COACH IT or ALLOW IT! Coach it, and you’ll win it!
XOXO
MB