Dental A Team W/ Kiera Dent And Dr Mark Costes

Did you know that the stories you tell yourself are true? Oh, that patient is too poor to afford treatment or my doctor is a bad leader or I’m egotistical … If you think these things enough, they establish themselves in your mind and then it’s all you see! Kiera is here to fix that, encouraging listeners to change up their thought process. Stop making stumbling blocks where there should be stepping stones. Tell yourself stories that create a positive reality. Let us help you become the best dental team member you can be at www.TheDentalATeam.com! 

One of the many things COVID-19 did was put dental practices back on equal footing — everyone faced the same hurdles to overcome. In this episode, Kiera shares her recent experiences that caused her to switch loyalties from her beloved Southwest Airlines over to Delta (if you know Kiera, you know this is A HUGE DEAL). She talks about why Delta stood out to her, and then relates it to your practice. How is your practice standing out compared to all your competitors in terms of safety and service? The Dental A-Team encourages its family members to not scrimp and leave their patients’ concerns by the wayside. Today is the day to care, and see your practice rise to the top. Visit www.TheDentalATeam.com to discover other ways your practice can stand out!

Kiera is chatting with Amy Ells, regional manager for Finger Lakes Dental Care in New York! The two women just finished two days of meetings with the four Finger Lakes dental offices, and share their debrief in this episode. Topics discussed include… Successful team participation Running meetings on a cadence Inspiring a growth model Cruises vs. cookie cakes :) The underlying point to the huge success of Amy and her practice: traction! Like what you heard? Listen to Amy’s previous DAT episode, #95, Successful Leadership Teams of Multi-practices. Amy joined Finger Lakes Dental Care after completing her degree in communications with a concentration in public relations and a minor in marketing from SUNY Fredonia. She has been a part of the Finger Lakes Dental Care team since 2008. Amy is a member of the American Association of Dental Office Managers and has been taking multiple classes over the past few years covering topics from inter-office communications to online marketing. In her spare time, Amy

Do you often think of your practice’s or company’s core value? We sure hope you do! They’re an important part of setting the culture at your place of work, and guideposts on the roadmap to success. The Dental A-Team is currently reworking its core values to attract better hires. Listen to this episode for a core value exercise to see where you stand with your current values, and then learn if they might need to be re-shifted. Also included are the eight attributes of teams and companies that succeeded over the past year! Check ‘em out: Candor Collaboration Teaming out Accountability Development Energy Relationship Outcomes This rework should be a team effort, so make sure you’re including the gang! If you want to hear more about core values, listen to episode 244, Workshop Wednesday: The Hardest Part.

We’re going to be honest with you: Hiring has been hard as of late. Just like many of the practices we visit, the Dental A-Team has experienced staff turnover. We might be desperate to fill these important positions in our practice, but THIS episode is about how we didn’t let that desperation take the driver’s seat to bring someone new aboard. Today’s new spin on hiring is all about how you write the job description. Hint: Be brutally honest when you fill it out; list exactly what you want out of your dream hire. Not so sure about that approach? Press play to hear how we did it. And! The DAT also has a hiring course to help you on this journey. Visit www.TheDentalATeam.com to sign up, and use code ‘hire7’ to get a sweet discount.  

You know those topics you just love to hear about? This throwback episode re-tackles the 2-2-2 follow-up, which will in turn help increase your case acceptance AND provide better patient care. The first rule: Every patient who leaves your practice should always leave with an appointment. If they don’t, it’s time to implement the 2-2-2 follow-up, meaning you’re reaching out two days after the appointment, two weeks, and two months. Check out the Dental A-Team’s treatment tracker to help you establish this in your practice!

It’s time to take a good look at your practice in the mirror: Are you assuming too much of your patients? Kiera shares an example of this at a Macy’s in Arizona where she was shipped from department to department without any helping hand. Don’t be like this Macy’s! Stop assuming your patients know what a crown is, or a root canal, or insurance verification. Stop sending your patients around in circles because you’re not on the same page as your fellow team members! This episode will encourage you to focus in on perfecting the patient experience in your practice. The good news, 95% of the changes you can make are free! By ensuring your patients are taken care of from start to finish, you’re showing the love and care they want to feel. But wait! There’s more! Are you looking for other ways to make your patients feel like VIPs? Visit www.TheDentalATeam.com to discover the path to perfection.

If you’re a Dental A-Team podcast listener, you KNOW Kiera is all about creating a word for each year. In this episode, she shares her 2021 word, invites listeners to do the same … and then encourages your PRACTICE to come up with a word for the year, too! For example: The DAT’s 2021 word? Maximization!  This topic is a great one for weekly meetings. Gather your team together to brainstorm word ideas that represent what your practice wants to accomplish this year. Then share them with us: hello@thedentalateam.com. We can’t wait to hear your words!

You need to start trusting the process, people! In this episode, Kiera talks through how to take hold of 2021 and reassert yourself professionally and personally. The steps to get there: Make the decision and take action Something holding you back? Dive in with both feet Leave behind the guilt Make the new year a good one by grabbing it by the horns. The Dental A-Team is here to help you along the way. Visit us at www.TheDentalATeam.com to take more action today.

Do you want to perfect your treatment plans? Organize schedule planning? Become the ultimate leader? It’s time to start doing just that. The Dental A-Team is here to inspire you to shift your mindset and start speaking the positive. What you focus on is what you achieve. You create what your professional life is, what your persona life is, and what 2021 will mean for you. Start today by listening to this episode. By the way, have you rated and reviewed us? Please do! You can do so on any place you’re streaming this podcast. We’ll love you forever :)

Let’s give a warm welcome to the returning Dr. Jenny Perna (Yogi Dentist)! Listen in as she and Kiera discuss Dr. Perna’s plans that went awry in 2020 — her attempts to acquire an office and work with moving parts, as well as the many lessons learned. What would Dr. Perna change, looking back? Assemble your transition team early Don’t be afraid to stray from recommendations Include as much in your Letter of Intent as possible Those are only a few of the many tips she provides, but you’ll need to press play to get the rest. More advice includes dealing with banks and what kind of mentor is imperative to have. Listen to our previous episode with Dr. Perna: #261, Associate to Owner, Taking the Leap! Dr. Jenny Perna grew up in Merritt Island, Florida, where she spent her early years performing as a dancer, singer, and actor. While attending the University of Florida for her undergraduate education, she worked as a dental assistant and saw how her two worlds of artistry and science could combine in a care

Today’s topic is a listener-fueled answer! Yup, if you have a question, the Dental A-Team has an answer, and sometimes that answer is an entire podcast episode! Listener Amanda asked about how to determine whether you should write a fee off or not. Kiera shares her own opinion on the matter: Basically, don’t list $0! Posting a full fee and then writing it off from there with a certain discount shows the patient the value your practice and work is offering. Doctors, don’t discount your dentistry. By implementing this DAT idea, your office can gift patients the value of dentistry, inspire loyalty, and keep track of the dollar amounts that are being written off. Press play to hear all about it! And listeners, have your own questions or podcast episode topic ideas? Email hello@thedentalateam.com today!    

Wanna know a secret to moving forward positively in your personal and professional success? You immerse yourself in inspiring spheres of influence! This episode talks about proximity as power — utilizing mentors and coaches and consultants to expand your knowledge base and web of connections. Let Kiera warm you up with her own experiences of having coaches and mentors, then it’s time to take flight! The Dental A-Team can be that starting point, or we can give you ideas for other resources. It all starts at www.TheDentalATeam.com. 

It’s time for … book club! Yup, Kiera is back with her latest read recommendations. These books are just for a good time — they’re full of good ideas that you can instill in your own practice. (Pssst, we linked the audiobooks below so you can listen on the go!) The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership by Jim Dethmer The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor Sometimes You Win, Sometimes You Learn by John C Maxwell The Pumpkin Plan by Mike Michaelowicz Fix This Next by Mike Michaelowicz Girl, Stop Apologizing by Rachel Hollis Get Out of Your Own Way by Dave Hollis The Untethered Soul by Michael A Singer Use these books to start your own book club in your practice! Assign, read, gather, then tell us about it! We want to hear your thoughts: hello@thedentalateam.com. 

Scenario: A key member of your practice goes completely out of commission … What do you do? This week’s office autopsy takes a look at that. Kiera shares an experience a practice went through recently, prompting her encouragement to all practices to have the following in place: Have a COVID-19/shutdown plan Create an operations manual for everyone in your practice Encourage team members to take time off not only for mental health, but so weaknesses are revealed and problems solved Listen up to how the DAT worked through having a key player (in this case, the doctor!) out of the picture. Not sure where to start in creating your own emergency approach? The Dental A-Team can help you! Visit www.TheDentalATeam.com. 

In search of some stellar programs to keep your practice organized this year? Kiera is sharing successful options the Dental A-Team has found like Basecamp, Trello, ClickUp (our current fave), and more. Have your own organization/communication apps that you love? Share ‘em with us: hello@thedentalateam.com! 

Kiera joins the gang at Commercial Real Estate Secrets podcast to share her journey through dentistry, how she purchased a practice, and lessons learned. Topics and experiences discussed include navigating partnerships, managing site relocation, and increasing revenue from $500,000 to $2.4 million in nine months. This episode is a great reminder of the experience and heart that is behind those in the Dental A-Team. We love working with our DAT fam, and hope you love working with us. Visit www.TheDentalATeam.com to continue to support our cause.      

The Dental A-Team is joined by Naomi Cooper, marketing and strategic advisory dental extraordinaire with 20 years in the industry! Naomi discusses with Kiera the difference between doing your job versus doing your career and how to muster resources around you, plus advice for having a work-life balance, three tips of which are listed below: Start out your career “with a clean house” Give yourself and others space to grow Find education opportunities on and off the clock Naomi also shares her best time management hack, tip for delegation, and how-to for team communication. You can find and connect with Naomi at naomi@minoamarketing.com.  Naomi Cooper Hochman is president of Minoa Marketing, a dental/medical marketing & social media consulting firm based in Los Angeles, California. She is a published author, a sought-after speaker, and a dental industry opinion leader.

Office autopsies — our listeners love ‘em! In today’s office, Kiera shares the background of an office with seven locations and 80 employees and the six-month journey to achieve a better leadership team. Listen to what this office has done and consider your own take-aways for improving your practice with best management practices. As a reminder with these autopsies: We’re showing you the highlight reels of these offices, not the low-lights (the turnover, the sacrifices), which definitely do exist. Make sure you consider that when assessing your own office’s progress. Want to hear about your own office autopsy? Let the Dental A-Team come to yours! Visit us at www.TheDentalATeam.com to contact us today.

Got 12 minutes to stop cancellations in your office? This episode is the one for you! Kiera shares tips on how to stop people from canceling their appointment. Especially if they’re not canceling for COVID-19-related reasons, there is a lot of wiggle room. Press play to learn the magic phrases to use to keep patients sticking to their appointment time and how to implement a 15-minute patient fill when it’s impossible to do so. Want to hear more about combatting cancellations? Listen to one of our first episodes: Don’t Break Up With Me - Controlling Cancellations at www.TheDentalATeam.com!