North Texas Dentistry Volume 7 Issue 2 NTD 2017 ISSUE 2 DE | Page 21

Seek out early adopters: It is important to identify those staff members that are not threatened by change and can buy into the vision and necessary change early in the process. These staff members will have a calming and reassuring effect on the more skeptical and uncertain members of the team. We must let these early adopters know how much their support means to us and how important their input is to achieving the overall vision. Engage the staff: For those of us that have seasoned veterans for staff, we simply need to define the desired result and allow the staff to determine the process for achieving the result. This technique encourages maximum buy in by the staff be- cause by using their own creativity and resourcefulness they feel more relevant and essential in facilitating the change and making the vision a reality. With less seasoned staff, we may need to play a bigger role in defining the process, but we should always allow the staff to provide feedback and feel like they are vital to the process. Be patient and supportive: Taking a supportive role is essential for our staff dur- ing a time of change. Change does not occur spon- taneously or without potential issues in a healthcare practice. By accepting that there will be a learning curve and by making allowances for inevitable mistakes and miscues, we create a psychology safe environment for our staff and they will Finally, we must always remember that change is inevitable and necessary, yet change also presents a degree of uneasiness as we move beyond our familiar comfort zone toward an unfa- miliar future we have yet to experience. Knowing how to guide our staff through what may be a difficult journey for them will ultimately solidify our position as leaders and provide them with the security they desperately need throughout the change process. Dr. Joel C. Small is a practicing en- dodontist and the author of “Face to Face: A Leadership Guide for Health- care Professionals and Entrepreneurs”. He received his MBA, with an emphasis in healthcare management, from Texas Tech University. He is a graduate of the University of Texas at Dallas postgradu- ate program in executive coaching and limits his coaching practice to moti- vated healthcare professionals. He is a nationally recognized speaker on the subjects of leadership and professional develop- ment. Dr. Small is available for speaking engagements and for coaching healthcare professionals who wish to experience per- sonal and professional growth while taking their practices to a higher level of productivity. Dr. Small can be reached at [email protected]. We’ll help you keep your oxygen costs from getting out of hand! n n n Individualized service stops waste Simple, straightforward pricing No add-on fees be more willing to contribute their feedback and best efforts to- wards making the vision a reality. “ There is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success, than to take PUT US OXYGEN ON YOUR TEAM TODAY! FAST & EASY NO FEE TO SWITCH NO 1st TIME SET-UP COSTS NO CONTRACT the lead in the introduction of a new order of things. ” — Niccolo Machiavelli The Prince (1532) 214.930.6691 [email protected] www.usoxygensupply.com www.northtexasdentistry.com | NORTH TEXAS DENTISTRY 21