The dental field is evolving faster than ever, and it certainly isn’t getting any easier to keep up. New products, social media trends, clinical techniques, laws, marketing strategies… the list of new things goes on and on. I’ll admit, sometimes it seems pretty daunting, but then I force myself to take a step back, breathe and refocus on the bare essentials of what makes a dental practice tick. Each practice has its own unique characteristics, but there are always commonalities that transcend specifics. One such commonality is a fun, positive, enjoyable work environment. To the untrained eye, this might seem to be a minor aspect of the day-to-day setting of the office, but it isn’t minor at all. In fact, employee morale is one of the most common topics colleagues ask me about, and both owners and managers are always looking to improve it. There are a slew of managerial philosophies and techniques at your disposal to boost employee morale and create a positive work culture within your practice, and many won’t cost a dime. 

When you arrive at work tomorrow, make it a goal to build up the people around you. One of the best ways to do so is to keep your eyes and ears open for opportunities to say something nice and compliment your coworkers whenever possible. Sound trivial? It’s not. Everyone from seasoned employees to rookies love hearing a genuine compliment. When is the last time you told your dental assistant something like “You know, I really appreciate what a great job you do taking radiographs. I’m so proud that when we send films to other offices, they look so classically textbook. Thank you.” 

Don’t stop with your dental assistants — every person in every department would enjoy hearing a heartfelt compliment, including the dentist. Coworkers who regularly provide timely, heartfelt compliments to each other will invariably function better together. Team members will know their hard work is being recognized, which will in turn provide more confidence and a personal fulfillment in their position. With a little luck and the right employee mindset, your commitment to complimenting the positive attributes of coworkers will spread throughout the practice. Soon, everyone within the practice will be committed to building up their coworkers. This may result in a litany of other positive results, including fewer interpersonal conflicts and greater work efficiency. If that happens, congratulations — your decision to keep your eyes and ears open for compliment opportunities was the spark that ushered in a new era of positive morale within the practice! 

I’ve only spoken of coworkers thus far, but don’t forget about your patients. They will certainly feel the newly formed positive vibe within the office. A fun, positive, energetic environment is contagious. Who knows — patients may even start enjoying their trips to your practice!

Tomorrow, look for genuine opportunities to share compliments. Make them often, and make them count. Feel confident that tomorrow will be the first day of a compliment wave that washes over your practice. Everyone in your practice will benefit.