How do we best prepare as an orthodontic team? Every orthodontist has spent years of school and training preparing for the day they practice and see patients. We study, work on our skills and practice our skills. Preparation is at the core of a professional’s journey. When we hire and lead a team for our offices, we prepare with training, develop training manuals, and follow continuing education resources to improve and prepare for our future performance.
When we advocate for preparation, we are promoting a proactive approach. Orthodontists and their teams should work towards driving progress with intent. The three ways an orthodontic team can prepare for peak performance:
Mindset
Every day starts with a decision on how we show up. I like to think of this as our mindset. How are you today? Did you sleep well, move and activate your body? Are you in a positive state of mind, or do you need to clear some air before game time? Daily preparation is critical. I like to clear my mind and set my focus. Avoiding the morning rush, taking some time to meditate, exercise, and listen to great music are just a few techniques that work well to prepare when you get started. Every team member should do a self-check and prepare mentally.
Meeting
I’m a huge believer in the morning meeting. Whether it is the morning huddle or the morning briefing for you, this meeting lets the team prepare for the day by running through the various scenarios. Communicate well on how we are doing, who is ready, and the day’s opportunities to achieve our goals and bring our best game for the team and our patients we serve. When we prepare in the morning, we make the extra effort that decreases our pain points during the busy day.
Methods
Setting up and polishing your methods are also a great way to prepare the orthodontic team. Think of your operating procedures, systems, and processes as an exercise routine that gains strength with repeated conditioning. Like a muscle, your office systems and processes need exercise and continual preparation. It is not enough to set these up but to continually evaluate and revise them. Practice and continue to improve them through team training, review meetings, and regular updates. As Robyn Sharma explains, “Sweat more in practice, bleed less in war.” Practice, prepare and see your team grow stronger and better at achieving success.
