"Go Big or Go Home, Communication"

Go Big or Go Home

Communicate

Our last article focused on thinking big to take your practice to the next level. This time we will talk about how important it is to refine and maximize your communication to decrease miscommunication. 

Let’s say you wake up in the morning; you state to your significant other, “Have a nice day.” They ask, “What do you mean by that?” You shake your head, walk out the door and enter your dental office. There your receptionist greets you. You ask, “How does the schedule look?” “Fine,” she says as she turns away and mumbles something under her breath. What has gone wrong? Why is everyone reacting so strangely? It may be a few things, your tone of voice, your nonverbal communication or it could be the way they’re hearing the message you are delivering. You can’t change what they hear, but you can change how you say it.   You cannot be a great leader without great communication skills.

It doesn’t take long for a conversation between two individuals to go sideways.  You’re saying something that seems completely clear to you, but the other person is answering a completely different question and now you are going in circles. It is important to develop strong communication skills in order for successful situations to occur. It doesn’t mean you always have to agree, it simply means you must speak effectively in order to make sure your message is heard correctly.  Increasing your ability to communicate does not mean increasing the amount of words that come out of your mouth either. Instead it might mean learning how to read verbal and nonverbal communication, improving your listening skills, and speaking in a clear and concise matter.

Effective communication creates strong teams. It is when everyone is talking, but no one is communicating that things tend to fall apart.  When clear lines of communication are established everyone knows what their responsibilities and duties are. Individuals in the office may ask for help, work to quickly resolve issues and a level of respect is established. 

Great teams take effort. Take time to work on your practice regularly to build teamwork and strengthen your results. For more information and to read other articles, please visit us at www.saltdpm.com.