Finding the right dental consultant is just like you finding your ideal patients. You don’t want to be frustrated when working with someone right? Being a dentist is very challenging and the biggest challenges are managing your team and dealing with the actual business of dentistry. When you have the right support who brings in reliable resources, it lifts a big weight off your shoulders and helps you run an efficient dental practice.
Your everyday challenges do not need to keep repeating itself. There are hundreds of dental consultants and dental coaches out in the world. Some dentists use more than one at the same time. There are the ones who specialist in start-ups or acquisitions, some will train your front desk, others train clinically and then there are executive level coaches who help you make smart business decisions.
Learning to be an excellent clinician is a big task in itself. There is so much continuing education that your brain is learning. Sometimes being a dentist feels like you need to be a psychologist, teacher, accountant, manager, and wear more hats than you know what to do with. It can feel so time-consuming.
Many of you are successful but feel like there is more to life than this. You may feel like your worked so hard and still haven’t reached the goals you wanted. It is important that your dental consultant knows what successful coaching will look like to you? Anyone can say, ‘You are going to fail if you don’t get help” and scare you into needing them. The key is to click with your dental practice management consultant and make sure they can help you get where you want to go. This is about asking the right questions.
I highly recommend speaking to former clients of theirs whom had some of the same challenges you are having. We need to know they can get you where you want to go. You may want more new patients, train your team to row in the same direction, learn more leadership skills, improve your collections, get help with treatment case acceptance, work on your negative mindset, and things like that.
Dental consultants can charge a lot to help solve your challenges. Many just come in and shake the whole office up and sometimes employees quit. It is important to know if your coach only cares about you and your profit. It is important that if you involve the team that they are ready and relating to the consultant.
The key to hiring the right dental consultant is knowing these things ahead of time;
- What do you want to accomplish?
- What is your vision for your life?
- What do you LOVE doing and want to do more of?
- What are your core beliefs and what do you stand for?
- What are you willing to do and not do?
- How much time are you willing to invest in improving your business?
- Are you wanting them to hold you accountable?
- Are you looking for someone to hold your hand?
- Are you looking for a business coach who can diagnose and help you prioritize?
- Are you and your team coachable?
- How much are you willing to invest?
Here are questions you can ask your prospective dental consultants:
- What core values are your systems based on?
- How do you define a good ROI on your business?
- What types of things do you do or say to motivate my team?
- How do you create ownership of the systems once implemented?
- Now that we have talked, what are MY goals to reach and what is MY vision as you understand it?
- 6.What systems do you have for my team to improve on office communication?
- What communication will you be training on new patients and reactivation?
- How do you define successful coaching?
- How will you evaluate the different departments in my practice?
- If you don’t agree with my current way of doing things, how will you be sharing your recommendations or changes within the office?
- May I please call some past clients and some that you have worked with longer than 5 months with a similar situation as mine?
It is important that they are not giving you “fluffy” answers. We need details and examples. It is like hiring an office manager who tells you, “I can do it all.” I need examples. Give me real life reports and action steps they did. I want to know exactly how they improved accounts receivables or production. A seasoned consultant should have reviews, testimonials, and clients you can call.
You want a dental consultant who can tell you the truth and help you in ways that you want to be helped. Yes, sometimes we need to train ourselves not to discuss insurance coverage so much before we can get our patients to not only do what insurance covers. There are dozens of systems to pull together like building blocks in your practice if you want your office to run smoothly. A dental consultant should provide helpful systems to help your office be more efficient and profitable. I love when the team is inspired to do more and help the practice grow. I love when dental team members stay a very long time, and they feel appreciated.
I am the type of business coach that believes in a great patient experience and a win-win-win. It is a win for the patient, the doctor, and the employees. I want the team to be involved in the doctor’s vision for the dental practice. A positive culture helps you be well-known in your community and attracts more patients to care about their health.
As a dental coach, I do not do the work for you. However, I am by your side helping you make the best decisions to minimize future issues. We analyze things together and take one step at a time to move your business forward. We go as fast or as slow as you need. There is always something to improve in all dental offices. You are not alone and you do not have to feel frustrated. Get support, you deserve it.
Sincerely,
Coach Heidi Mount
