Dental A Team Podcast

Ever walk a mile in your coworker's shoes? To have a leveled up dental practice means the front office and back office staff can hold their own in each other's roles! Kiera shares tips on how staff from each side of the tracks can familiarize themselves with what's going on beyond their turf. For front office staff wanting to learn about the back office: Attend procedures Take the Dental A-Team's online course For back office staff eager to know about the front side: Make re-care and unscheduled treatment calls Perform insurance breakdowns Taking on these measures will give your patients a better and fuller understanding of how your practice operates — no matter who they talk to. Episode resources: Reach out to Kiera Subscribe to The Dental A-Team podcast Become Dental A-Team Platinum! Review the podcast on iTunes

Brittany Stone is back on the podcast, talking with Kiera about accountability versus blame in the workplace. To address this topic, Brittany and Kiera cover … Ways to view people as problem solvers instead of the problem How to have conversations to hold accountability instead of assign blame Solid tools to hold people accountable Ultimately, this topic boils down to each of our intentions and beliefs regarding accountability. Having a healthy mindset about your team members and how to solve problems will yield a healthier attitude about how things function in your practice. More on Brittany: I have spent my life in and around the dental field. Raised by a dental assistant, my training started young and my journey in dentistry continues as I strive to help teams realize their dreams! Working in dentistry for over 15 years, I have had the opportunity to work in a variety of structures from small to large and private practice to dental support organizations. I have learned how the organization and management of an office impact the lives of each team member and patient. I have studied healthcare administration while working most positions in a dental office including hygiene lead, coach, and office manager. This helps me bring an understanding of driving value and patient care to help dental teams cultivate a fulfilling work environment. Episode resources: Reach out to Kiera and Brittany Subscribe to The Dental A-Team podcast Become Dental A-Team Platinum! Review the podcast on iTunes

It's time for another topic many dental practices don't know enough about! SEO expert Evan Lazarus shares with Kiera the basic doctrine of SEO, or search engine optimization. For the non-believers, SEO equals visibility, and Evan talks about why good SEO makes you relevant in your community and industry. The most important aspect when it comes to hiring an SEO expert for your practice is to be educated — ask the questions and be willing to understand it. Quick takeaways from this episode: Get your marketing budget in place Educate your team on SEO Ask questions of your marketers Episode resources: Connect with Evan Lazarus Learn more about Simple Impact Media Reach out to Kiera Subscribe to The Dental A-Team podcast Become Dental A-Team Platinum! Review the podcast on iTunes

Have you fallen into the trap of perceived practice values? Brian Hanks joins Kiera and the Dental A-Team to bust some myths about buying and selling dental practices, and explain how each person in your office can contribute to a higher valued practice. Too often values of practices center around collections and misconceptions about equipment. Listen to this episode to learn what numbers buyers and sellers should ACTUALLY be focused on in practices. Brian provides tangible takeaways you absolutely cannot miss. Episode resources: Connect with Brian Hanks Tune into the Practice Purchased podcast Read How to Buy a Dental Practice Read Selling Your Dental Practice Reach out to Kiera Subscribe to The Dental A-Team podcast Become Dental A-Team Platinum! Review the podcast on iTunes

A hearty welcome to Brittany Stone, the Dental A-Team's newest consultant! In this episode, Brittany and Kiera chat leadership, an ever-hot topic. Specifically, the duo talks about identifying and finding leaders among your team and giving them opportunities to grow. The specifics: How to find different types of leaders — FYI, you don't have to be outgoing to be a good leader How to execute leadership strategies with these potentials And what to do if that potential leader falls short More on Brittany: I have spent my life in and around the dental field. Raised by a dental assistant, my training started young and my journey in dentistry continues as I strive to help teams realize their dreams! Working in dentistry for over 15 years, I have had the opportunity to work in a variety of structures from small to large and private practice to dental support organizations. I have learned how the organization and management of an office impact the lives of each team member and patient. I have studied healthcare administration while working most positions in a dental office including hygiene lead, coach, and office manager. This helps me bring an understanding of driving value and patient care to help dental teams cultivate a fulfilling work environment. Episode resources: Reach out to Kiera and Brittany Subscribe to The Dental A-Team podcast Become Dental A-Team Platinum! Review the podcast on iTunes

Kiera is joined by Dr. Jenny Perna to discuss steps associate doctors can take to be A+ — three specific steps, in fact, to get you there. Be a leader (listen to episode 367 to hear Dr. Perna's thoughts on leadership without a title) Think like an owner (learn more about the business side!) Advance your skill (do right by your patients and seek out continuing education) Taking these tasks on separates the wheat from the chaff, showing who is truly committed to the practice of dentistry. Dr. Perna also shares the benefits she's seen in her own life from functioning as a rockstar associate. Episode resources: Follow Dr. Perna on Instagram Listen to episode #367: How to Lead Without a Title Listen to episode #320: Plans Derailed? Here's What to Do. Reach out to Kiera Subscribe to The Dental A-Team podcast Become Dental A-Team Platinum! Review the podcast on iTunes

It's been a minute since Ashley Keith was on the podcast, but boy are we glad she's back! Ashley wears many, many hats as chief operating officer for Keith + Associates Dentistry, and she shares pearls of wisdom today on the following topics: Creating new efficiencies in your practice Changing energy and how to do it Juggling the ideas of a visionary dentist This episode will have you fired up to prioritize projects that'll move your practice forward in the best way possible. Episode resources: Listen to episode 265: How to Solve Problems FOREVER Listen to episode 162: Dental Assistant Mix-Up Reach out to Kiera Subscribe to The Dental A-Team podcast Become Dental A-Team Platinum! Review the podcast on iTunes

Jeffrey Shaw is once again on the podcast, this time to talk about his book, The Self-Employed Life! Kiera and Jeffrey run through highlights of the book, including what success really means, how team members can gain value from learning about self-employment, and business evolution versus a pivot. Jeffrey also shares the three elements that need to be healthy and thriving in order to maintain an ideal business ecosystem: Personal development Business strategies Daily habits to create sustainability As always, Jeffrey brings his A-game on the podcast, and this episode is no different — it'll have you full of motivation and inspiration by the end of it. Episode resources: Buy The Self-Employed Life book Connect with Jeffrey Shaw Tune into The Self Employed Life Podcast Listen to episode 352: The Benefits of Being Business Intrigued Listen to episode 375: Self Employment: Foolproof Ideas for Success Reach out to Kiera Subscribe to The Dental A-Team podcast Become Dental A-Team Platinum! Review the podcast on iTunes

The fabulous Mary Pat Knight, author, speaker, coach, and "student of life," joins the podcast! Alongside Kiera, Mary Pat shares her thoughts on human development and its role in leadership. We all experience the highs and lows of life, professionally and personally; Mary Pat encourages reinvention to progress toward your best self. This episode also includes topics such as… The drama triangle Sharing responsibility with coworkers Delegating and elevating Is your office seeking a guiding hand to inspire better leadership styles? Don't forget that the Dental A-Team can help you with that! We cater our methods directly to your practice. Join the gang today. Episode resources: Read The Humanized Leader by Mary Pat Knight Connect with Mary Pat by email or on LinkedIn Reach out to Kiera Subscribe to The Dental A-Team podcast Become Dental A-Team Platinum! Review the podcast on iTunes

Is your practice coming up on its hygiene cycle, where routine care is jam-packing the schedule? Kiera and Tiffanie trade tips on how offices can spread out the love of busy times so September, October, and November aren't so empty. Tiffanie shares specific items to add to your to-do list: Hit up your recare and reactivation lists What verbiage to use to get patients to actually call you back How many calls are normal for your practice to make to those recare/reactivation folks How offices with not as many hygiene spots can manage This episode will not only help you be more prepared for the goings-on in your practice TODAY, but also in the FUTURE! Episode resources: Reach out to Kiera Subscribe to The Dental A-Team podcast Become Dental A-Team Platinum! Review the podcast on iTunes

Did you know the right hand-off can efficiently shorten up doctor's time in an exam? This concept blows the idea that time equates value right out of the water. Kiera shares the ICRP hand-off to shorten those exam times. I: Introduce doctor C: Compliment patient R: Recap the treatment P: Personalize Navigate these four easy steps right and doctor is ready to dive in! By educating your practice's clinical team to co-diagnose with the doctor simplifies everyone's time (and bonus! Makes the patient feel good). Episode resources: Reach out to Kiera Subscribe to The Dental A-Team podcast Visit The Dental A-Team website Review the podcast on iTunes

Ah, the forever art of delegation. If you think you've mastered this, think again! In this episode, Kiera talks why we so often avoid delegating, how to know what to delegate, and how to delegate in the first place. This practice will build trust within your office, and build people up! Action items coming out of this episode: Make a list of all the tasks you have Delegate three tasks that can truly be passed on to another person Have your entire team do steps one and two! Give people the opportunity to thrive and watch them work their magic. Episode resources: Reach out to Kiera Subscribe to The Dental A-Team podcast Visit The Dental A-Team website Review the podcast on iTunes

This one's for all the system folks out there! Heck, it's for the non-system folks, too, because Kiera's here to share how to start getting your practice organized! First, know that the Dental A-Team has created a 12 Systems Comprehensive Success Cycle, aka the systems we think are MOST important to get established in your office! The 12 systems are as follows ... Company goals KPIs Billing Operations manual Scheduling Patient flow Treatment planning Marketing Hygiene Meetings Office manager/HR Communication and morale Gotta love 12-step programs, right? Well, here are five we recommend starting off with when building systems: Hand-offs (see our NDTR cheat sheet) Tracking (here's a sample scorecard) End-of-day checklists (a DAT-approved example) Hiring Billing Establishing systems will turn your practice into a fully functioning one, so get started today! Episode resources: Reach out to Kiera See our 12 Systems Comprehensive Success Cycle Subscribe to The Dental A-Team podcast Visit The Dental A-Team website Review the podcast on iTunes

"But [insert supervisor's name here], I just don't have the time to do that!" Aha! The Dental A-Team is here with the solutions to being more productive and efficient with your time. Have you ever noticed that the things we don't have time for are tasks we don't want to do in the first place? Yup, we're right there with you! But Kiera has efficiency hacks for you, and she explains the steps to do the following: Find a compelling reason why you DO have time Change your filter of time Seek out efficiencies Remember: You do have time for the things you want. Episode resources: Reach out to Kiera Subscribe to The Dental A-Team podcast Visit The Dental A-Team website Review the podcast on iTunes

It's time to get a little personal. We all work so hard in the best industry around, but it's important to reflect inward and make sure you're in tune with your life and what brings you joy. Kiera has a few tips to recalibrate your own why: Ask yourself what you live for Seek out a motivator Write to yourself often Meditate Find a non-work hobby There's no one simple formula for reigniting your passion. Rather, it's consistency that keeps you going! So make sure you're giving yourself the time and space for that consistency. Episode resources: Reach out to Kiera Subscribe to The Dental A-Team podcast Visit The Dental A-Team website Review the podcast on iTunes

It's time for company retreat talk! Planning a get-away for your entire team outside the office allows everyone to bond in a different way. Kiera shares her plans for the Dental A-Team retreat and offers tips of different activities that can take place during this time; everything from SWOT analyses to escape rooms. The two biggest points: Make sure the retreat is off-site Have an agenda Has your practice had its own amazing retreat? Share what happened with us by emailing [email protected]! Episode resources: Reach out to Kiera Subscribe to The Dental A-Team podcast Visit The Dental A-Team website Review the podcast on iTunes

Practices, bring your onboarding processes up to par NOW. Hiring in 2020/2021 is harder than ever, so it's important to have systems in place to smooth out all the rough edges. Kiera provides instruction on how to give new team members a solid first day, first week, and beyond in your practice. She suggests breaking out tasks into pre-hire assignments, day one, day two, and so on. And if you're seeking a more handheld approach to what your practice should do, check out Dental A-Team's hiring course! Episode resources: Reach out to Kiera Check out our hiring course! Subscribe to The Dental A-Team podcast Visit The Dental A-Team website Review the podcast on iTunes

Ladies and gentlemen, introducing the Dental A-Team's FIRST male consultant! It's Hunter Christensen! Kiera and Hunter use the podcast to discuss leadership in the dental industry — how to get there and how to build up those around you as leaders. A big part of being a leader is considering who you surround yourself with, how to reach out to potential mentors, and books and podcasts that help, too. At the end of the day, though, know that the path to leadership is an internal one. Episode resources: Reach out to Kiera Subscribe to The Dental A-Team podcast Visit The Dental A-Team website Review the podcast on iTunes

This episode is chicken noodle soup for the soul. Jeffrey Shaw is back on the podcast, this time joining Kiera to talk about self-employment, its challenges, and how to overcome the hurdles. Press play not only if you have your own practice or business, but if you work for someone who does, or know someone who does. Being a business owner is a lonely road, but you have resources. Jeffrey encourages seeking connecting, utilizing technology (in a healthy way!), and the fine line between being in control and trusting support. Trust is a measure of growth and expansion. He also provides foolproof ideas to run your own business. Episode resources: Connect with Jeffrey Shaw Tune into The Self Employed Life Podcast Reach out to Kiera Subscribe to The Dental A-Team podcast Visit The Dental A-Team website Review the podcast on iTunes

Joshua Kim, owner, founder, and CEO of 7(a) Accelerator, joins the podcast to make sense of small business loans, and BOY is there a lot to it! This episode is jam-packed with quick tips and tricks to navigate the process and services available, how to best navigate medical billing, and standard operating procedures for the loans themselves. Fresh out of grad school or a new doctor? Josh has specific information for you! There's no secret sauce to apply for these loans, but it does help to have a cook in the kitchen when you're trying to figure it out. Josh's advice will help you get started.

Does your list of things you need to get done seem too looooooong? Kiera and Tiffanie are here today to provide tips for not letting your to-do list stress you out. The grand takeaway: Focus on the three items that'll have the BIGGEST impact on your week, then time manage with what's left over. Other helpful things to consider: blocking out your schedule, finishing items to completion, and using your momentum. To get started: Put all your to-do items in one place. Kiera and Tiff share the next steps from there in this episode. Episode resources: Reach out to Kiera & Tiff Listen to episode 364, Block Schedule Around the Prime and Fluff Subscribe to The Dental A-Team podcast Visit The Dental A-Team website Review the podcast on iTunes

Hiring is hard in general, but right now, there seems to be a hygienist drought. In this crossover episode, Kiera talks with Grace Rizza of the Dentistry's Growing with Grace podcast about how dental practices can face hiring shortages, perfect the dynamics of your practice's culture, and what the future of dental hygiene looks like. Other topics Grace and Kiera chat about: How long it takes for practices working with the Dental A-Team to see positive effects The one service DAT provides that doctors don't think they need Episode resources: Listen to Dentistry's Growing with Grace Connect with Grace Listen to episode #347, Common Dental Marketing Mistakes Reach out to Kiera Subscribe to The Dental A-Team podcast Visit The Dental A-Team website Review the podcast on iTunes

"There's something about women in dentistry…" That's the topic behind this episode, which features Anne Duffy of the Just DeW It podcast! Anne, who has a long history in clinical dental hygiene and dental entrepreneurship, discusses with Kiera the magic in being a female, especially in the dental profession. This episode is full of inspiration to cheerlead one another, overcome shaky confidence, and celebrate your own strengths. (Psst, take the StrengthsFinder quiz to find what makes you unique and a powerhouse in your own way.) Episode resources: Listen to the Just DeW It podcast Connect with Anne Reach out to Kiera Subscribe to The Dental A-Team podcast Visit The Dental A-Team website Review the podcast on iTunes

Kiera's talking shop and eating cake pops! (You'll have to listen to this episode to catch that joke…) In this solo episode, Kiera talks about increasing your case acceptance with a different spin: Actually being interested in other people. Do you work too hard on being interesting instead of being interested in other people? Kiera offers advice on how to improve relationships with your patients on an individual basis. It's all about the power of understanding and the power of listening, folks! Episode resources: Reach out to Kiera Subscribe to The Dental A-Team podcast Visit The Dental A-Team website Review the podcast on iTunes

The fabulous road warrior Tiffanie is back on the podcast, this time to talk with Kiera about respecting people's time. Is your back office out of sync? Are patients running over their allotted times? If someone needs an emergency visit, are you pushing everyone else back? It's time to face the facts of how catering to one single emergency patient is affecting your entire day for the worse. If you want to build trust and good relationships with your patients, running over their time slots is NOT the way to go. Tiffanie and Kiera discuss how to provide the best experience possible in a timely and efficient manner and what to do when someone calls with a last-minute request. DAT takeaways: Game plan the day in your morning huddle Aspire to give VIP treatment to all patients Whistle a different tune Episode resources: Reach out to Kiera & Tiff Subscribe to The Dental A-Team podcast Visit The Dental A-Team website Review the podcast on iTunes

It's a crossover episode! Kiera joins Anne Duffy over at the Just DeW It podcast to talk about empowered women in the dental industry, the power of competition, and the highs and lows of team coaching. Both DeW and DAT are women-led organizations/businesses that have experienced great success, and this episode shares pieces of that. Kiera talks about her experience as a go-getter both personally and in dentistry and how that translates to pushing yourself to the next limit. Listen to this episode to discover what drives you! Episode resources: Listen to the Just DeW It podcast Connect with Anne Reach out to Kiera Subscribe to The Dental A-Team podcast Visit The Dental A-Team website Review the podcast on iTunes

Joining the show again is Dr. Jenny Perna! This round, Kiera discusses with Dr. Perna leading others without the formal title of a leadership position. They both share their own examples of letting go of egos and ways they've inspired others. Regardless of your role, you can choose to lead and inspire and motivate others. Some people are natural leaders; other natural followers, and both are okay to be. Being the leader doesn't always mean being the good guy. Let Kiera and Dr. Perna inspire the leader in you! Episode resources: Follow Dr. Perna on Instagram Listen to episode #261: Associate to Owner, Taking the Leap Listen to episode #320: Plans Derailed? Here's What to Do. Reach out to Kiera Subscribe to The Dental A-Team podcast Visit The Dental A-Team website Review the podcast on iTunes

It's time for a tactical practical! Kiera has more tips for all you wannabe word ninjas out there, this time on the right questions to ask and how to ask them. If you want to be the best dental professional you can be, incorporating the right one or two words into how you're interacting with your patients will go a long way. Bonus! At the end of this episode is a challenge for you to share with all your team members! Episode resources: Reach out to Kiera Subscribe to The Dental A-Team podcast Visit The Dental A-Team website Review the podcast on iTunes

Kiera is featured on The Biz Call podcast with Rob Frankel! This quick episode is a great dive into the who, what, when, and why of the Dental A-Team. Remember, we're here to provide a full team approach to positively impact the world of dental. We believe we're in the best industry and seek to help others grow. Episode resources: Connect with Rob Frankel Tune into The Biz Call podcast Reach out to Kiera Subscribe to The Dental A-Team podcast Visit The Dental A-Team website Review the podcast on iTunes

It's time to organize your life … with Tiffanie and Kiera! These two haven't been as smart with their time lately, so a podcast episode dedicated to block scheduling and power hours was called for. What is block scheduling, and how can you incorporate it into your practice? Kiera and Tiffanie share what that looks like. It's important to know your personal limitations and to be okay with them. Key takeaways from this episode: Block in your admin time and hold the block Consider the different pieces that need to be addressed and schedule them in during your power hour Incorporate block scheduling into your practice If you're not scheduling items, they're not going to get done (at least as fast as they need to). Organization awaits with the pressing of play! Episode resources: Reach out to Kiera & Tiff Subscribe to The Dental A-Team podcast Visit The Dental A-Team website Review the podcast on iTunes

The ebb and flow in our lives and businesses is inevitable, and Kiera's had some challenging bumps in the road lately. But the struggles allowed her to reset her priorities and understand that people are the greatest asset of the Dental A-Team. Join Kiera as she shares her latest journey through leadership, what her blind spots were, and the lessons she's learned. Episode resources: Reach out to Kiera Subscribe to The Dental A-Team podcast Visit The Dental A-Team website Review the podcast on iTunes

Kiera is a guest on Dr. Len Tau's Raving Patients podcast! Together, the dental duo covers a broad swatch of important topics for your office, including… The 5-minute new patient phone call (download the form here!) How to measure and increase case acceptance Handling out-of-network insurance conversations So what's the result of implementing these tiny little actions in your practice? Loyal patients and confident dental staff. It's a win-win! There's also a fun game of Would You Rather at the end! Episode resources: Connect with Dr. Len Tau Tune into Raving Patients Podcast Learn more about Dr. Len Tau Reach out to Kiera Subscribe to The Dental A-Team podcast Visit The Dental A-Team website Review the podcast on iTunes

Austin Hair of the Commercial Real Estate Secrets podcast joins the DAT gang in this episode! Austin talks with Kiera about identifying the best situations for dental practices in terms of location, location, location. If you're wanting to buy a practice soon or someday, or move to a new spot, this conversation will cover a lot of your most frequently asked questions like what to consider in seeking a spot, buying now or sitting and holding, and buying versus renting your own location. There's also a discussion about spending capital or growing your business. So many questions, so many answers! Episode resources: Listen to Austin's previous DAT podcast episode Check out Commercial Real Estate Secrets Reach out to Kiera Subscribe to The Dental A-Team podcast Visit The Dental A-Team website

We could all use more yeses in our lives, right? And definitely from our patients! Kiera shares some tips that'll boost how often your patients are saying yes to treatments. First, record your treatment coordinators' pan presentations. Then … Listen back to them as a group, looking for areas of success and improvement Confirm the NDTR hand-off Schedule first Give time for questions Kiera also suggests ideas to overcome common excuses (both for yourself and the patient). These are tiny actions that'll have big positives IF you implement them now. Episode resources: Listen to a related podcast: #161, Assume the Yes! Reach out to Kiera Subscribe to The Dental A-Team podcast Visit The Dental A-Team website Review the podcast on iTunes

A listener recently wrote to the Dental A-Team podcast, curious about stopping the complaining among dental assistants. This is a VERY common problem in practices, and luckily, it's pretty straight forward to fix. Kiera shares ideas for self reflection as a leader (what standards are you tolerating to take hold in your business?), how to respond to a complaint, and communicating over confronting. Being direct is scary, but it's the most efficient form of communication in a practice like this. If you tolerate complaints, complaints will happen. This episode will help you tolerate only the best leadership standards. Episode resources: Listen to a related podcast: #232, Stop Tolerating Inefficiencies Reach out to Kiera Subscribe to The Dental A-Team podcast Visit The Dental A-Team website Review the podcast on iTunes

It's time for some time efficiency hacks on the Dental A-Team podcast! Kiera walks listeners through the process she uses to plan out her weeks, turning her schedule into a proactive rather than a reactive one. The perks of working with the DAT is that we help you clear out the clutter, and this episode provides a delicious taste of that. Episode resources: Reach out to Kiera Subscribe to The Dental A-Team podcast Visit The Dental A-Team website Review the podcast on iTunes

Missed her last time? Dr. Rhonda Kalasho is back on the Dental A-Team pod! This time, she chats with Kiera about ways to maximize your role as a dentist for your patients. Dr. Kalasho shares three ways to get a grip on your practice: Know that there's always an option for your patients Look for opportunity in hygiene exams Help your patients understand that insurance is a coupon Being a good dentist also means being a good business owner, and Dr. Kalasho talks tips on that, too. For example, dedicating time to your admin duties and taking care of yourself in your personal life (yes, you're allowed to have one — and you should!). Implementing these tips will help you establish better ownership in your practice and in your life. Dr. Rhonda Kalasho is a dentist and patients see her for a host of reasons, including teeth bonding, bruxism, sleep apnea, sensitive teeth, and plaque. She is fluent in English as well as Arabic, which makes her culturally attuned to patients from various backgrounds. Dr. Kalasho earned her dental degree from the University of California, Los Angeles. She presently runs her own practice located in Los Angeles. As a dental professional, she tries to stay updated on the latest advancements in dentistry to provide suitable treatment options to her patients. Dr. Kalasho recognizes that many patients may not be completely comfortable with visiting a dentist. She endeavors to make dental visits a low-stress experience with minimal discomfort.

Once upon a time … Kiera had a no-good, very bad day. It seems that a lot of people are filled with what we've dubbed the "Covid crank" these days — overall grumpiness. Kiera shares a recent experience where one person at the very end of an eventful couple of days made a huge difference in her life. The point? At the Dental A-Team, we want our friends and team members to show love and kindness to others, to stand out in someone's life. Be the spark of compassion to help cure someone else's crankiness. It'll go a long way, and who knows, you might even end up being mentioned in a podcast episode! Episode resources: Reach out to Kiera Subscribe to The Dental A-Team podcast Visit The Dental A-Team website Review the podcast on iTunes

It's never fun to be uncomfortable in any aspect of your life, but sometimes it's beneficial and can get you to a higher purpose. Kiera walks listeners through the different zones we must travel through to discover our purpose: comfort, fear, learning, and growth. Kiear's own example is with prep for the Dental A-Team Summit! Discover more about the event, and get a discount by using coupon code PODCAST at check out. Visit summit.thedentalateam.com. Episode resources: Reach out to Kiera or Suzanne Subscribe to The Dental A-Team podcast Visit The Dental A-Team website Review the podcast on iTunes

Kiera is joined by Dental A-Team consultant Suzanne to talk about compliments — what they mean, where to give them, and how giving them positively affects an office. Giving compliments establishes an open and trustworthy relationship between you and your patients, your coworkers, and your supervisors. Kiera and Suzanne give examples of compliments and how you can start incorporating them into your practice this very day. Episode resources: Reach out to Kiera or Suzanne Subscribe to The Dental A-Team podcast Visit The Dental A-Team website Review the podcast on iTunes

Feeling a little uninspired in your work? We've all been there, and in this episode, Kiera's going to help you climb out of it — now or later, when you need the advice. First, find your strengths (Kiera recommends StrengthsFinder 2.0) and be comfortable living within them. Then, have your team also discover their strengths and find their zones of genius. Third, delegate tasks to those who are best suited for them. Fill in the gaps in your office! Lastly, enjoy being part of a more efficient and happier team. Following these steps will break you out of the autopilot and uncover new opportunities that you are meant for. Episode resources: Reach out to Kiera Subscribe to The Dental A-Team podcast Visit The Dental A-Team website Review the podcast on iTunes

Kiera joins Jeffrey Shaw of The Self Employed Life Podcast to talk about a lack of business education in trade sectors. Both Jeffrey and Kiera have noticed the same pattern: Though people are often highly skilled in what they do for a career, they don't have the business skills to cope. That's where consultants (like the Dental A-Team) come in! What's the solution? Becoming business intrigued. You can't get stuck in the cycle of only ever improving your skill set. Jeffrey and Kiera discuss the balance between passion in our work and harnessing business intrigue and how to excel in trade organizations. It's an intelligent conversation full of inspiring takeaways. Episode resources: Connect with Jeffrey Shaw Tune into The Self Employed Life Podcast Reach out to Kiera Subscribe to The Dental A-Team podcast Visit The Dental A-Team website Review the podcast on iTunes

We've got a great example for you today: A practice that Kiera's visited twice this year went from 75% to 57% overhead in just two-and-a-half months. How in the world did they do it so fast? Press play and we'll tell you. The spoiler alert, though you'll have to listen up to hear more detail on what specific goals this practice set, is that the entire team was on the same page AND they tracked their progress throughout. When it comes to meeting goals, you don't have to be 100%. This practice wasn't, but they still got incredible results. Sure, the Dental A-Team helped, but remember, we can only lead a horse to water. Episode resources: Reach out to Kiera Subscribe to The Dental A-Team podcast Visit The Dental A-Team website Review the podcast on iTunes

Kiera brings you some quick and easy ways to set up traction in your practice, regardless of its size. In this episode, she revisits the idea of traction — an incredibly important topic for offices who want to streamline efficiencies and work as a team. Tune in to hear the steps your practice needs to take to create short- and long-term goals, quarterly rocks, and even the little to-dos to get there. It's an entire process that fuels success into your operations. This episode will not only give you ideas of goals to implement, but the Dental A-Team also provides the tools to get there. Episode resources: Reach out to Kiera Subscribe to The Dental A-Team podcast Visit The Dental A-Team website Review the podcast on iTunes

Tiffanie is baaaaack! Dental A-Team fab road warrior Tiffanie Trader is in this episode to talk about her recent consulting journeys, what key tangibles are coming through, and the number one favorite thing she's implemented over the past month. Kiera and Tiff are always a blast to have together in an episode, and this is a quick convo you won't want to miss. Listen to past episodes with Tiffanie at www.TheDentalATeam.com.

~*~ It's a crossover episode with The Dental Brief! ~*~ Kiera joins Patrick Chavoustie on the Dental Brief podcast to give a quick recap on what's top of mind for her at this moment: Getting your team on board and headed in the same direction. She shares insight on how to set one-, three- and 10-year goals, why keeping your team interwoven gets them extra-engaged, and how 75% of DAT offices surpass the goals they set. We love our crossover episodes. Want to find out other podcasts we've participated in? Visit www.TheDentalATeam.com/blog. ________________________________ Question: How can I be more involved in what's going on in my practice?

Grace Rizza, CEO of Identity Dental Marketing, is the star of today's podcast episode. She joins Kiera to talk Kiera's favorite topic: marketing ;) Marketing is a huge piece of a dental practice's success, so it's important to take it seriously. Grace shares what her response is to a doctor who's big goal is to get butts in seats, the most effective ways to build a practice over time, and, of course, three common marketing mistakes: Signing long contracts Giving up ownership of domain/website Not having realistic conversation expectations The bottom line: Marketing is a necessary part of a well-functioning business. Whether you're comfortable or not in the topic, it's time to face the music, and this episode is a great place to start. Visit www.TheDentalATeam.com to find other ways to launch your practice into success. To contact Grace, visit www.IdentityDental.com/grace. More about Grace: Grace is the proud owner of Identity Dental Marketing where she has made it her personal mission to improve the business of each dental practice she works with by a measurable amount. In her first position as a marketing director for a multiple-location dental practice, she tripled the number of new patients seen on a monthly basis (in 3 short months, on the same marketing budget). From there, she created a variety of sales-focused training workshops, attended many marketing seminars, and became obsessed with dental marketing and branding as a whole. Grace has experience in the creation and execution of marketing strategies, public and community relations, networking, patient communications, staff sales training, phone scripting and training, advertising, internet/web presence, SEO (search engine optimization), direct mail programs, email newsletters, and much more. An accredited international speaker, Grace approaches every speaking engagement as an opportunity to educate, empower, and entertain her audience. She teaches dentists how to achieve practice growth in the most ethical and efficient ways. She inspires her audience to embrace change in order to grow. Whether connecting with an audience of 20 or 200, Grace's information can transform a surviving practice into a thriving practice.

Dr. Deren Flesher's Royal Oak Family Dental is one of the most innovative and unique offices the Dental A Team has ever been part of. In this episode, Dr. Flesher joins Kiera to talk about the positives of outsourcing to software (like Modento, wink, wink). Now, you might think that utilizing software takes away personal approaches with your patients, but Dr. Flesher explains exactly why that isn't the case. Rather, you're letting technology tackle monotony and encouraging team members fill in the gaps that are actually missing in your practice. Modento is willing to waive their onboarding fee, give you voicemail credits, AND money off a monthly subscription. Visit modento.io to sign up. If you have questions, feel free to reach out to Dr. Flesher at [email protected], or you can email US at [email protected]. Dr. Flesher has been here before, so make sure you're caught up on his insight! Episode 112, Dental Gold Mine: Rotating Schedules, Assisted Hygiene, and Automated Voicemails; and episode 136, Deep Dive on Bonuses with Dr. Deren Flesher

Team culture is incredibly important and valuable in any workplace, and in this episode, Dr. Jenny Perna has returned to the Dental A-Team podcast to share her experiences in the dental world. Dr. Perna has been in toxic cultures before, where the wrong people sat in the wrong seat on the bus, so to speak, or they sat in the right seat, but didn't have the right attitude. To fix the negative atmosphere, she focused on the following: Anyone can be a leader. Don't be afraid to step up. Relate everything to your core values. Be committed. Fixing a toxic culture can take a while — years, even — but take heart from Dr. Perna's advice. (Check out this accountability survey we have!) Be sure to listen to past episodes with Dr. Perna! 261: Associate to Owner, Taking the Leap 320: Plans Derailed? Here's What to Do.

Dr. Sarah Zeh, an associate dentist out of Austin, Texas, is Kiera's guest for this podcast episode, and she's here to share tips on how to keep things healthy between associates and owners in the practice. For context, Dr. Zeh is in her third associateship, so she has some good experience to share. Kiera and Dr. Zeh chat about what makes an amazing owner — trusting an associate before they even come on board and setting time to communicate one-on-one — and what she looks for when seeking out practices to join. Like what you hear? Dr. Zeh is on Instagram at @thedaintydentist! Give her a follow (and make sure you're following us at the same time, @DentalATeam)!