SLAM DUNK FOR STAFF RELATIONS
Before telling you “the rest of the story,” a bit of
background with several threads of information woven together: we live in a
house built by one of Greenville, NC’s finest builders. My home is not large or
palatial, but attractive, solid, comfortable, and built using quality
materials. We respect the builder as a construction professional, as a family
man with several grown children, and as a man of faith.
For Christmas, our granddaughter, Danielle, gave us a set of
daily devotional writings, beautiful 5” x 5” cards with a Scripture on one side
and a “Declaration” written by our builder’s daughter, Cleere Cherry, on the
flip side. We have learned these two young women have been friends for years,
retaining their friendship while they have both begun small businesses, each in
her own special field of expertise.
Now let me tie that information together so it makes sense
for your dental office. Often I come across articles, emails, pictures,
messages, even jokes I’d like to share with you, but I hesitate doing so. Why? Because
they reflect my faith, and I’ve been advised to use caution in addressing
non-dental topics in my writings, particularly any that might smack of faith or
impart a religious thought. I’m going to ignore that bit of advice for this
posting. The devotional card I read this very morning begged to be shared and
shouted to me, “Let dentists and team members hear this principle, and they can
then decide if it will be helpful in their office.” So—here goes:
Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor. Corinthians
10:4
On the flip side, Cleere wrote:
Lord, thank you for giving me Your eyes to see others today. As I go
into situations and enter new circumstances, help me to see those in need,
whether that be a smile, a conversation, or more. I am so thankful for all the
blessings You have given me and promise that I will open my hands, eyes, and
heart to blessing another today. Humble me and let me always see others as
greater than myself. You tell me that the greatest way to be a leader is to be
a servant. Thank you for leading by example.
Now consider this: what would the relationships among your
dental team members and with your patients be like if this philosophy pervaded
your office? If every person, starting with you, doctor, treated every other
person, teammate, and patient alike, with a servant’s heart, sharing and caring
openly, patiently, warmly, with a you-before-me attitude? What changes would be
apparent in your office?
After more than 35 years of working in the dental profession
with literally hundreds of practitioners and thousands of staff members, I can
attest to the effects of such a philosophy in practice because I’ve worked with
a number of practices that operate on that level. An office following the
principle of putting others first, before self, is second to none, enjoyable,
profitable, thriving, and enduring. Please give it some thought.
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