Today I’d like to talk about a concept that I call “Letting it Bounce Off.” This is one of the most important strategies that I’ve learned in business to keep me strong, on track, and focused on leading my team and my clients to success.

As your success continues to improve and people start to learn what you’re doing differently, you’ll see some people start to get “scrappy.” The truth is that you are your only competition. However, people who think they are your competition can sometimes do unethical things. We’ve all been victim to this at some point in our lives. Maybe you let an employee go and they wrote a bad review on Google while posing as a patient, or you had someone move in down the street and use a very similar business name to try and capitalize on your following and your brand. I hear these stories all the time, and I’ve got the solution for you: stay focused on you.

You need to stay focused on your brand and your mission, and you need to let these things bounce off. If someone is doing something illegal or actually lying to your clients or patients, you definitely should consider getting the advice of an attorney. However, don’t let it consume you, don’t let it drag you down, and don’t let ruin your day. Don’t even let it ruin a minute! Just let it bounce off. Once you embrace the fact that nothing in life is personal and everyone is just doing the best that they can, you can really harness this strategy. It will make you a stronger parent, friend, spouse, business leader, and a better person in general. So remember, what others say about you is none of your business, and when the competition starts to get “scrappy,” just take it as a compliment.

Dental Presenter

Time is your most precious resource. On certain days, managing your time is not just difficult, it is downright impossible. Ask yourself about the strategies you are currently using to organize your day. What other tools could you be leveraging to save your practice’s most precious commodity? Here are 3 methods you can implement to maximize your time.

1. Re-evaluate Your Management Tactics

You can buy time without spending a dime. Employ a new way of keeping track of practice productivity. You can have your team record their tasks for the day in a quick email. Each staff member can quantitatively list their duties, allowing for simple reference later. This cuts down on micromanaging your staff by way of asking, “What did you do today?” Managerial work is difficult to implement after a full day of back-to-back appointments.

You can cut back on daily meetings because you will have a clear picture of what each team member is contributing. Having a list of completed tasks at the end of the day allows for everyone at your practice to be keenly aware of who is to be held accountable for each task.

2. Utilize Apps to Maximize Efficiency

“Lost time is never found again.” Ben Franklin knew this more than 200 years ago, so how can you apply this knowledge to running your practice? There are numerous tools available for your phone that can be a valuable resource for keeping track of your practice. You can benefit from the use of efficiency apps. In today’s world, there is no need to manage all aspects of your business manually.

Take advantage of scheduling apps and software. You can schedule emails to remind patients to book their next visit to your office without having to send it in real time. This can be an indispensable tool for patient retention, by keeping you in consistent contact with your patients. Apps such as these will help you save time, and keep track of your practice’s performance.

3. Consider Express Check-In

It is not always your team that is responsible for lost time slipping through your fingers. One late patient can set the whole day off-schedule. Make it easy for your patients to register. Provide compliant forms online for patients to fill out before coming into the office. Saving time at the front desk will help your entire practice run on schedule. Never allow for your practice to earn a reputation of running behind schedule, instead work with your patients to create a smoother, faster registration. Your patients will not want to fill out redundant forms. Rework any documents or forms where possible to prevent your patients from filling out information such as their name and address multiple times.

Successful business leaders are experts at time management. Put methods in place that allow for concrete, quantitative results to measure productivity. Utilize technology to make your life easier and allow your patients to work with you to save time. Don’t get caught watching the sand fall through the timer, take action and rethink your time management strategies.

For more information, contact us today.

Recently, I purchased a membership to a subscription food service. I did this for many reasons, but mostly for my health. Each week, 3 meals arrive at my door with ingredients, portions and cooking instructions.

After getting my first few recipes and ingredients I was excited. My life quality, health and wellness was instantly improved. Then I started thinking of ways it could be even better.

I visited Facebook and saw a few ads for a competitor. After subconsciously realizing there are several competitors, I became a bit critical of the service and wondered how it could be even better.

I identified 3 weaknesses – in my opinion.

1. The meals did not come separate in small boxes that can easily be placed in my refrigerator. Instead, I had to separate the ingredients when storing.
2. The meals did not come with caloric and nutrient information.
3. The meals were a bit too “gourmet” for my taste. They utilized ingredients that wouldn’t be easy to find or duplicate in the future. If I found something I just truly LOVED, I couldn’t repeat it for a dinner party.

Next, I ordered from a competitor. I noticed the meals came in small individual boxes with vented holes for freshness. They were labeled with caloric information and the meals were, for lack of a better word, “normal”.

The takeaway…

If you want to be the best, don’t settle for “good”. Keep finding ways to improve your service. Your patients want to know you are the absolute best option available. They don’t want to find another dentist, but in a time where information is available 24/7 at our fingertips, never give them a reason to question if you’re their absolute best option.

When it comes to being the best option in any business, the top performers are identified by tiny details. When it comes to profits and financial performance, going the extra mile in customer service often results in substantial financial gain.

When evaluating your business on your marketing plan, service, amenities (that’s right amenities), patient communication, team efficiency, office decor…remember, success is in the details.

Success does not come to those who wait. Success comes to those who get up and MAKE IT HAPPEN!

Don’t be good. Be the greatest.