Coaches—not generals—inspire today’s office

Sports sagas often crest in fall. Underdogs, champions, success and failure—the drama distracts us from the painful transition of summer to winter. Whether the game is soccer, basketball or golf, we never tire of watching the sheer skill of superbly trained athletes. Yet physical contests are deceptive. Just below the surface they also represent a complex battle of wits. Victory results when one team outthinks another, a coach’s inspirational teaching takes root and extraordinary performance unfolds on the field. The theme for this issue of the DOCS Digest is teams. So why do I mention coaches in this context rather than commanders or generals? George Patton and Douglas MacArthur defined a type of leadership that still inspires awe. But it’s hard to imagine how their top-down authority would be received in today’s less hierarchical office environment. That’s because contemporary business—for that matter the lab of the scientist—faces an overwhelming set of complex problems. Conundrums are too vast and varied to be solved by even the most brilliant individual. Discovery, discussion and decision, leadership development, communication—this road map to success is traveled by collective thought and the involvement of engaged teams. Those teams still have the need for leaders, which is where you come in. You set the tone for excellence—clinical and otherwise—in your dental practice. But those standards can’t take hold without the existence of an emotionally present and committed team of like-minded individuals. Have you built a team where each person is both respected and expected to contribute? Do they enjoy working for you and serving your patients? Enlist and energize, and let your employees know how deeply you appreciate what they do. Help your team understand where they are going and do what you can to help them get there. Just as our concept of a leader has evolved, so has our understanding of what constitutes a team. It’s a very elastic concept, I believe. You and your office staff make the obvious one. From the welcoming phone call to the comforting hand, the team beside you extends the reach of your clinical skill and thereby the success of your practice. But we at DOCS Education represent another group working on your behalf. As faculty and staff we encompass a team of professionals who value and promote the growth of sedation dentistry. Along with the dedicated employees of DOCS Education, we are part of your team, and we’re deeply invested in your achievement. We’re dedicated to helping you gain the skills needed not only to achieve your professional targets but also the satisfaction of your patients. If you haven’t done so lately, take a second to examine the many offerings available to members of our organization, especially those covering clinical care. You’ll see what gratifies us every day— contributions from the even broader team of dentists learning, supporting, and excelling in the field of sedation dentistry. We’re all in this together, and together our team is formidable.

The information contained in this, or any case study post in Incisor, should never be considered a proper replacement for necessary training and/or education regarding adult oral conscious sedation. Regulations regarding sedation vary by state. This is an educational and informational piece. DOCS Education accepts no liability whatsoever for any damages resulting from any direct or indirect recipient's use of or failure to use any of the information contained herein. DOCS Education would be happy to answer any questions or concerns mailed to us at 3250 Airport Way S, Suite 701 | Seattle, WA 98134. Please print a copy of this posting and include it with your question or request.
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