A Morning Huddle Sets the Tone for the Day
Running your practice on a day-to-day basis can present a wide range of challenges, leaving you overwhelmed if you aren’t prepared. Fortunately, taking the time for a morning huddle can build a foundation for long-term dental practice success.
By taking just 10 minutes to get everyone on the right track toward a smooth and productive day, your team can focus and greet each new day with intention.
Align the Team Around the Day’s Goals
Starting with a morning huddle provides an opportunity to align your team on daily goals. Take a quick look at your schedule to ensure that everyone understands the roles they’ll need to perform in upcoming general dentistry and orthodontics cases.
As the leader of your dental team, you can also use a morning huddle to get proactive when it comes to setting clear expectations for your team. For example, if you’re looking to attain more patient reviews, remind your team to mention how clients can leave a review at the end of their appointments.
Any special considerations for the day can also be quickly addressed during your morning meeting. With these quick reminders, you can protect your team from being caught off guard by additional duties or challenges on the fly.
Identify and Prevent Potential Issues
Scheduling for your dental practice takes place on multiple levels. The appointments you set up weeks or months in advance only provide a high-level view of the way you spend your time. A morning huddle lets your team look at the smaller details to identify and prevent any potential issues.
With your huddle, you can bring everyone up to speed on any last-minute scheduling changes. This will help avoid stress and overwork among individual team members.
This is also a convenient time to bring up any specific patient concerns. Patients with dental anxiety, special needs, or other unique requirements will enjoy a better experience if everyone on your staff understands how they can respond to patients most effectively. Any issues concerning equipment or supplies can also be dealt with sooner rather than later.
Strengthen Communication and Team Connection
Communication is critical to ensure the smooth operation of your dental practice. Setting dedicated times for communication helps streamline the process and ensure that your staff has ample opportunity to voice their thoughts and concerns.
Routine communication builds trust between your team members. It also fosters accountability, as there is open discussion concerning roles and responsibilities. You can even discuss opportunities for team development as well, such as general dentist orthodontics courses and other forms of continuing education.
Starting your day with a morning huddle makes it easier for your team to collaborate. Instead of becoming isolated in their roles, team members can share updates and foster a sense of connection.
Reinforce Office Culture and Motivation
Maintaining a positive office culture is essential to keep your team working together effectively. During your morning huddles, you can recognize wins and the achievements of your team members. This helps them feel more fulfilled in their work, a key factor in avoiding burnout.
Consider and reiterate the values and goals of your practice. By reminding your staff members of these important concepts regularly, they are more likely to take ownership for the success of your practice.
Regular meetings can help to maintain a positive energy so that your team stays on track. By keeping team members on the same page, they can work together toward a shared purpose.
Improve Patient Experience
Morning huddles even play a key role in supporting a positive patient experience. With intentional time to connect, your teams can review patient notes, treatment updates, and best practices for engaging with patients.
With an opportunity to discuss cases and bring everyone up to speed, your team can provide better care for your patients. Each of your patients will receive more personalized and attentive care, which can help you to improve patient retention rates over time.
Taking the time to align everyone on goals regarding patient experience ensures that every interaction with your team is smooth and engaging.
Take the Time to Foster Dental Practice Success Every Day
Incorporating a morning huddle into your daily routine gives you the opportunity to celebrate your team, boost morale, and reiterate your core values. In the long run, each of these practices can serve as the building blocks for dental practice success. Want to learn more about how to connect with your team, improve patient care, and develop new skills? Take a look at American Orthodontic Society courses or become a member to network more effectively with others in the industry.
To learn more about our popular orthodontics courses for pediatric and general dentists, check out one of the upcoming events below.
