(by Alan Stern, DDS )
July 4th is a little over a week away and, although this reflection may be better timed for next Sunday, the subject of independence is weighing heavily on me this week.
In dentistry and in life, we are walking an exceptionally fine line between what we want to do for ourselves and what we need to do for others.
The Great Resignation of 2020 and its impact on everyone is beginning to rear its ugly head in the form of global labor and supply shortages as well as an absurd rate of inflation due, in large part, to those shortages.
This is not a place for politics, and I do not and will not (publicly, at least) espouse any politician’s finger pointing or one-size-fits-all answer to these problems. I encourage your refrain from that here, as well, although I will ask a question of you this week.
As we approach Independence Day, however, as the title of this refection mentions, I am reflecting on the concept of Interdependence. The clear and unmistakable lesson of the past few years is that we need each other, my friends, on so many levels.
Many dentist owners have learned the hard way that we need our teams to help us do whatever it is we are doing. And although there are some dentists who enjoy practicing without a hygienist, I am clearly not among them. Devices like Isolite add a virtual extra set of hands to our procedures; however, a great chairside assistant is not only part of a group of empathic, caring, nurturing PROFESSIONALS caring for fragile, vulnerable people with their shared approach to personalized care that people need and want, but also save us the energy we need for our care, skill, and judgment that would be sapped by the labor of cleanup and breakdown of our rooms. Imagine, for example, what would happen if a surgeon would have to clean and sterilize his own instruments and set up an O.R. before a critical procedure or if a pilot would have to maintain his own 737 aircraft before flying you and 200 other people from your home to a faraway destination.
And, to look at the other side of this coin, any non-owner of any business or PROFESSIONAL practice will need to realize that they need business or practice owners not only for a salary but also for work that is fulfilling and unique to their own why.
I realize that the preceding few paragraphs – and what is to follow- will create some discomfort but thinking through that discomfort will create growth for all of us.
Let’s keep growing
My very first employer, the late, great Thomas T. “Bud” Pierce, introduced me to the concept of interdependence over fifty years ago, when he addressed a group of high school and college aged workers at his Summer Camp. Pierce said to all of us, “You don’t work for us; you work with us”. And Bud Pierce walked the walk- he knew every employee of that camp. And there were lots of us. Bud Pierce’s philosophy is a big part of that success. One of my nostalgic yearnings is to return to those happy days and work and play in that happy place.
Decades later, Edgar Schein would write about this concept in his classic work, Humble Inquiry. Schein teaches us the principle of Here and Now Humility – that we must acknowledge, inwardly and outwardly.
In that spirit, I offer you some tough questions
For my fellow Dentist Owners:
- How can we, in our own unique way, create a working environment that is both attractive and retentive? And yes, salaries are going to be a big part of it. But the truth is that money attracts, but pride retains.
- How can we make the people we’re so dependent on to achieve our mission want to collaborate with us towards that (hopefully) shared mission?
- Do we have- or are we looking for- just another set of hands, or a group of like-minded people to walk alongside us? Easier said than done today, for sure, but this, too, will change
- Do you foster a culture of love? Love is the one ingredient missing from so many workplaces today. Can you create an environment of support for everyone who enters your office? Love is the unfilled resin that will bond your people to your practice (I could not resist the dental pun)
- And, of course, are you willing and able to pay a salary that attracts good people without jeopardizing the existence of your practice or the comfort of the life you have earned?
And for our precious team members (yes, you have questions to answer, too)
- What do you want out of work? I suggest that if it is only a paycheck, your job may not be sustainable and will not create a Monday morning that does not s*ck
- Are you and your practice of similar mindset and mission? If you love multiple rooms and a fast pace, a Fee For Service practice may not be for you, no matter how much it pays. And the same is true for the slow pace, high touch high care people out there. A 5-zillion dollar (OK, I’m exaggerating) sign-on bonus with an obligatory stay here whether you like it or not or pay that bonus back clause may be a fast way to a miserable work life (I’m not exaggerating here) . Get in touch with your core values and let them guide you
- How can YOU express some here and now humility towards the people you work with?
- And let’s recognize that we will need to get back to work because the world needs us for the gifts we have. Dentistry and people’s health will deteriorate and inflation will continue to erode our lives if we cannot be part of a solid team in a solid nation.
So, as Independence Day and its fitting celebration approaches, let’s take a moment to reflect on the critical reality Interdependence with a sense of urgency to build that sense into our personal and PROFESSIONAL reality.
This was an easy Reflection to write; implementation will be much harder. But the result will be well worth the effort.
Have a wonderful week. And, of course, Enjoy the Ride!
Written by Alan Stern, DDS