Get in touch
Get in touch

Category: Personal Performance

What Got You Here Won’t Get You There – A Lesson from a Fish and Chip Shop

In an episode of The Savvy Dentist podcast, Geoff Currie shared a story that captures a vital lesson for any business owner seeking growth. He had been working with a fish and chip shop owner whose business was generating $1 million a year in revenue. That owner eventually decided to sell the shop. A new […]

What Purpose Really Looks Like (Hint: It’s Not Always Easy or Efficient)

The word purpose gets thrown around a lot. We’re often told to be purpose-driven in our work, but what does that actually look like? It’s easy to nod along, but harder to connect the dots when we’re buried in our day-to-day tasks. I was reminded recently, in a very simple way, what purpose in action […]

The Power of Autonomy and Connection

In his book Drive, Daniel Pink identifies three core drivers that motivate us as humans: mastery, purpose and autonomy. I’ve seen just how important autonomy is through my work with dental teams—when people have the freedom to take ownership of their roles, their confidence, engagement, and performance often thrive. But, is autonomy alone enough to […]

Your work is meaningless! (Or, is it?)

I recently read something that struck a deep chord: “Life is actually meaningless—it is up to us to add the meaning.” This profound idea can reshape the way we view our work. If life itself requires us to create its significance, then our work—often viewed as a routine obligation—must also derive its meaning from within […]

Why being productive isn’t enough

A recent session with one of our clients highlighted an important shift in how we approach our work. This client had always prided themselves on how much they could get done. They were known for powering through their workload, feeling accomplished by the number of tasks they crossed off their to-do list. However, while they […]

Breaking the routine by discovering the deeper meaning behind your job

I was inspired to write this blog after listening to a conversation on a dental podcast, where a practitioner shared how, shortly after graduation, they found their daily work becoming repetitive and uninspiring. It made me think—why does this happen to some professionals while others seem to stay motivated and passionate about their work? This […]

From Drudgery to Delight. The Transformative Power of an “I Get To” Mindset

How often do you find yourself saying, “I have to…”? “I have to go to work.”“I have to make dinner.”“I have to deal with this difficult patient.” These phrases are so ingrained in our daily lives that we hardly notice them. But if we take a closer look, this language reflects a mindset that can […]

Umm…could you improve your communication skills?

I used to struggle with speaking too fast, saying ‘umm’ too often and throwing in a few ‘you know’s and ‘basicallys’. It was always when I didn’t feel terribly confident in what I was saying, was afraid that I would be interrupted or felt a little frazzled. The impact these bad communication habits had on […]

HOPE

It was such a treat last week to watch Shawshank Redemption on free-to-air TV. I have watched this movie a number of times, and my enjoyment never wanes. The driving message of the movie offered a different meaning for me, being a Melburnian in lockdown for 208 days now. “Fear will imprison you. Hope will […]

“I stuffed up! Let’s move on!”

You should have got it right. If you had been more mindful in the moment, you would have completed the task successfully… Your work colleague notices the mistake and brings it to your attention. They are polite enough and seeking clarification. You feel flawed. Incompetent. Not good enough. In that moment, you forget all the […]

Can you imagine what you could achieve in 10 years?

There is a great saying that we “overestimate what we can do in one year and underestimate what we can get done in a decade.” Ever since I first heard this a year or so ago, it has stayed with me. Is it true? Sure, it is common for people to set one-year goals in […]

I love being right!

I don’t think I am alone in this.  Humans seem to have a primal need to be right, even when there can be a substantial cost. As you read this, reflect back to the last time you were holding your ground with someone, maintaining how you were right.  What did it gain for you? Proving […]

What is your response to the response?

Many things are beyond our control. The world response to COVID has proven this in spades. As a resident of Victoria, and yet again in lockdown, I have deep concerns for those around me for whom this State Government response means they are on the brink of losing their jobs, their businesses, their livelihoods…and possibly […]

Complainers. Where is the benefit? And, what is the solution?

We have all come across this person. Maybe you ARE this person. The complainer! The complainer is the one that sees the drawbacks to everything. There is no situation too small to find fault with, no person too kind and no idea too bright. Complainers are dragged kicking and screaming to accept change and show […]

Looking at the brighter side of life

Are you a ‘glass half-full’ or ‘half-empty’ kind of character? If you are the latter, this article might inspire a shift in your mindset. Victor Perton, the founder of The Centre for Optimism, was recently interviewed by JPPS co-founder, Charles Kovess, for the Monash Community Podcast. And it was a truly interesting and entertaining discussion. […]

How much do you value honesty?

One of the first lessons that our parents teach us is HONESTY. And there is good reason why. Honesty is, in my view, the most important characteristic we develop as human beings. And this is why honesty is the fourth value that I believe is crucial to a successful dental practice. (Go to my blog […]

When you embrace this value for your practice, magic happens.

Last week, I explored in my blog what my values would be if I still owned my dental practice. Professionalism was the first value that I identified as crucial to have a successful practice. (Read last week’s blog in case you missed it here: https://julieparkerpracticesuccess.com/professionalism-what-is-the-value/) My second value is one that fosters an ever-improving performance for staff […]

Envy: A potential step towards your personal development

Have you become better because of your envy of another? Let me explain… I was listening to a podcast conversation between UK comediennes Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders. French stated to Saunders that when Saunders developed her comedy series Absolutely Fabulous and it became a huge hit, French was quite envious of her success. Saunders […]

New hobbies for a powerful 2021

I saw a great social media post recently that I think can help make 2021 a powerful year for you. And beyond! The post encouraged adopting a new hobby in each of five areas of your life to help you be more successful. The five areas to find a new hobby for are: One to […]

Is your inner self trying to make you better?

You know that uncomfortable feeling you get? It often happens after you have had an interaction with someone and the result wasn’t all that ideal? It’s a feeling in your gut and it stays with you a while. You try to budge it by rationalising your own behaviour and also by criticising the other person. […]

“Dress like the person you want to be.”

Jordan Peterson, renowned clinical psychologist, professor of psychology and social commentator, is often noted for his sharp attire. This wasn’t always the case. Over the years and in the build up to his tours on stage, Peterson made a special effort to shift away from loose-fitting shirts and jeans to a more tailored and professional […]

“What’s your five-year plan?” Can I have an easier question?

Pick up any business or self-management book and you will likely be asked the following question: “Where do you want to be in five years?” For some, the answer is at the forefront of their mind. For others, they scratch around their creative minds for something – anything – that will make them feel excited, hoping […]

Love or fear: What is driving your behaviour?

Never before has it been so necessary to be ‘tuned-in’ to each other’s mindset. The reaction to COVID-19 has been wide and varied. While some appear relaxed and confident that this situation will be managed well and pass to return us to happier times, others are at the other end of the spectrum. They are […]

What will you put on the canvas?

I remember a number of years ago after my first marriage ended, when I chose to sell my dental practice and move out on my own, I felt somewhat lost. Many of the stable things in my life were no longer there. It seemed like the canvas which was my life, normally filled with images […]

How will you be judged?

The impact of the COVID-19 restrictions on businesses has had the opportunity to be an employee relations crisis. Both employees and employers have been confused, distressed and rudderless in terms of conditions of employment, job security, JobKeeper or JobSeeker, number of hours to be working (if working at all) and whether online from home is […]

What are your needs?

COVID-19 has many people in the dental industry reeling. Just like the broader community, within our industry there are a range of responses to this challenging time, from low-level to high-level anxiety. Understanding what is happening within your mind can often help in the management and reduction of the anxiety that you may be feeling. […]

Control Your Controllables

Turia Pitt is an Australian survivor. She is the ultra-marathon runner who was horribly burned by an out-of-control grass fire during a ‘Racing The Planet’ event. Turia endured months of operations and rehabilitation during her recovery and has been left with substantial scarring over her body. In an interview with Turia, she was asked how […]

Words From The Wise That Help In This Difficult Time

Many of us have a lot to lose due to the Covid-19 social-distancing recommendations and laws. We may lose income, jobs and some will lose their businesses. But we won’t lose everything. And we won’t lose what’s important. We will still have our family and friends, most of our possessions and food and shelter. We […]

Squash and Minimise Your Overwhelm with Overwhelm

We’ve all been there. Some of you may there right now. Feeling overwhelmed and ‘in a rut’, ‘in a mood’ or ‘in a funk’. It can happen in the morning as you drag yourself out of bed. It can happen during bad traffic. It can happen when you are given bad news. Shifting out of […]

Challenges: do you face them or flee?

I read a fun quote on Facebook a few days ago that has stuck with me. “A strong person looks at a challenge dead in the eye and gives it a wink”. This is a powerful response to challenges. We often see a challenge coming, turn on our heel, and walk briskly in the opposite […]

De-stress While You Etch

I have been listening to a couple of great dental podcasts this past week, both of which had the same interesting guest speaking about, among other things, stress and burnout of dentists. The guest was Dr Annalene Weston and she appeared on both Dental Head Start with Dr David Keir and Communicating Health with Dr Colm Harney. I […]

Can I?

I remember when I was about 13 years of age. I was being a difficult child, and my mother, out of exasperation, gave me a book and said, “You need to read this!”. The book was called Putting It All Together and was authored by Dr Irene Kassorla. This book encouraged its readers to take personal responsibility in their […]

Do you have your armour on?

If you are a resident of Melbourne, or have recently visited the southern state of Victoria, you will know that it is COLD! I have just arrived back from my regular hour-long walk with numb hands and face from the icy winds that have been our outdoors for some weeks now.  As I was braving […]

What reputation have you built?

Reputation is important to dental practice success. Your practice’s reputation is both what your patients say about you (if positive, then more new patients visit you) and also what keeps or repels your patients from future visits. But what about your personal reputation? Despite many believing that you should not be concerned what others think […]

Where is job satisfaction?

A colleague recently asked me online how to gauge job satisfaction. Given my years in the dental industry working in various roles and speaking to others through my practice coaching work, I wrote the following response. I thought you’d find it helpful. To experience job satisfaction I believe these six factors need to be working […]

Is there a ‘grumpy cat’ in the surgery?

Clinical team members know too well what it is like to work with a grumpy practitioner or assistant. It’s awful! The signs are obvious. A brooding expression, demanding rather than asking, short-tempered, low tolerance and the absence of any humour. The occasional irritable mood can be forgiven. Life in the surgery can be stressful. There […]

A dental practice mantra for EVERYONE!

To be the best leader, you need: ·         to establish a COMPELLING vision; ·         to be supportive and act as a mentor; ·         to help find the answers to the important questions; and ·         to inspire and motivate team members. To be the best practitioner, receptionist or assistant, you need: ·         to be efficient, productive and have a caring and positive attitude; […]

The Key to Happiness

Life coach and self-help author, Tony Robbins, states, “Progress equals happiness. Even if you’re not where you want to be yet. If you’re on the road, if you’re improving, if you’re making progress, you’re gonna love it. You’re gonna feel alive.” Working with dental practices from their early stages through to success, I have observed […]

A week of GOLD to help you work BETTER, FASTER and EASIER! Trello

Yes! I am delivering a week of, what I consider to be, GOLD! I am always on the lookout for computer applications that I can use to make my work: more creative more efficient more productive, and more enjoyable. I know that some of the apps I have discovered will make YOUR life better too. […]

I have a challenge for you. Are you up for it??

Self-improvement consists of making small, incremental changes to your thoughts and behaviour that will result in a more positive experience of life. I would like to challenge you to embrace a specific small change. The challenge is to avoid responding with criticism for one week; just seven days. Let me explain… Most people spend most of their time responding to situations around them […]

The Magic for Your Practice of Having a Team of Servants

Poor attitudes in dental practices are not uncommon. Despite implementing systems and processes that support a customer-centric style of service, practices can still experience poor team-member behaviour. Common examples of apathetic, negative behaviour that I see in our consulting work, or that are reported to me, are: unhelpful response to patient requests or queries sitting […]

A Message of Passion from JPPS Co-Founder, Charles Kovess

A Passion Point to Ponder… 12 Wishes for Christmas, not the 12 days of Christmas. The 12 Days of Christmas is a famous carol, but not one of which I am particularly fond. I mean, who wants eight maids a milking in their dining room? Or even ten lords a leaping?? So, I have been pondering, as […]

Could collaboration be your path to high-level success?

This past weekend was a special one for me. JPPS collaborated with another business, Dental Management Expertise, and presented Dental Business Mastery, a 3-Day Conference in Melbourne. The event ran beautifully. We had great speakers, and the attendees were enthusiastic and fun to spend the three days with. But, the reason the weekend was special […]

How To Love Your Problems, So You Can Solve Them Gracefully

Our working days are made up of situations that both run according to plan and are quite satisfying and those that are unplanned challenges that can be quite unsatisfying.  We feel satisfied when all the patients arrive for their appointments, each dentist runs to schedule and when all team members are delivering their best performances. […]

5…4…3…2…1!

Go to bed earlier. Eat healthier foods. Make that phone-call. Tackle that important task. We have lists of things that we know we SHOULD be doing. And we often berate ourselves for not being motivated enough to actually do them. But, we delay, prioritise other things first and distract ourselves from actioning the things we know will help […]

How to Identify – and Shift – Your Limiting Beliefs

In a previous blog, ‘Opening Yourself Up To More‘ I wrote about the relevance of reflection, contemplation and new experiences to ensure you are moving through your life with purpose. One of the points I made was how limiting beliefs stop us from expanding our human experience and so limit our ability to reach our […]

Opening Yourself Up To MORE

JPPS co-founder Charles Kovess and I recently attended an inspiring event that was conducted by A MOST interesting man.  Dr Bruce Copley is a holistic educator, multi-instrumentalist, storyteller and presenter. He has also been a buddy of Charles for 10 years. Unbelievably, Bruce plays 122 instruments. He has been awarded multiple degrees and has developed a revolutionary […]

Opportunity dressed up in wolf’s clothing

Achieving your goals is all about clarifying what your actual goals are and then taking action. Initially, it feels good. You have made a powerful decision for improvement in some aspect of your world. You feel motivated and take the actions steps you have identified as the path to success! However, sometimes, despite taking action, reaching or […]

The Strange Secret About Action

When we are interested in a topic or outcome, we have the resources to acquire a large amount of knowledge in the area. There are books, articles, blogs, documentaries, websites and authorities to enlighten us on the actions we can take to achieve our desired outcome. So, why are there overweight people who KNOW that […]

How to say ‘I’m sorry’ without being embarrassed or feeling foolish!

Have you ever had the best of intentions, but upset someone anyway? Have you ever been under pressure and reacted poorly and upset someone? Have you ever had bad intentions towards someone which reflected in your behaviour and then, once you witnessed the impact on the other, you regretted your actions? Or is it just me? Our […]

Why On Earth Would Developing Self-Awareness Help You Build A Stronger Dental Team?

I can say with great conviction that the happiness I have enjoyed while working in dental practices over the years is due to my developing self-awareness. My developing self-awareness is also responsible for my ability to work in harmony with others and be a strong contributor. It is also thanks to my developing self-awareness that […]

Can you look at yourself?

Being a Victorian who is interested in sports, this past weekend has been a happy one. The Richmond and Melbourne Storm wins have raised the energy of the locals, with celebrations said to be continuing through the week. Richmond’s victory has also raised interest in their coach, Damien Hardwick. How did he manage to turn […]

Who do you become when the pressure is on?

The patient has arrived for their insert and the lab work is nowhere to be found! The next patient’s crown preparation is about to start and all the handpieces are in the autoclave. It’s the start of a busy day and you are short staffed. Then, one of the nurses calls in sick for the […]

What’s wrong with a little drama?

“Did you see this Facebook post by our new dental nurse? How inappropriate.” “The boss is grumpy again. We should not have to put up with this. Let’s get the whole group together and complain. If it keeps happening, we should all threaten to leave.” “Another supply company called chasing payment. The bosses must be […]

Special Traits of a Good Manager in your Dental Practice

It is commonplace in the dental industry that team members become ‘managers’ by default. They are promoted to Senior Dental Assistant, and are then required to manage other assistants. They are Receptionists, then required to manage the individuals in the team. They are dentists, then required to manage their own surgery. These ‘managers’ are not […]

Are you WEARY?

I recently worked with a client who was looking to hire a new receptionist. This practice had had difficulty in finding the person who was the ‘right fit’. Despite the owner’s thoughtful approach, three receptionists had come and gone within a year. After assessing various candidates, I arranged an interview with Meg, who had the […]

Improving Your Performance – Hint #3

  How do you improve your performance? I wrote about the importance of walking your talk a few blogs ago. You can read it here. In my previous two blogs, I shared two methods of achieving improved performance. Read here about one of my stories of not walking my talk, and how practice & commitment […]

Improving Your Performance – Hint #2

Today I am sharing another hint on how to behave in a way that is more aligned with your values.  A previous blog, ‘Walk your talk!’, challenged you to question whether your behaviour is congruent with your declared values. What are your values? What is important to you? What do you aspire to be? Identifying […]

Improving Your Performance – Hint #1

In my last blog, I wrote about the importance of ‘walking your talk’. Over my next few blogs, I will be sharing with you a series of hints on how to adjust your behaviour so that you are living a life that is congruent with your values and congruent with your talk. Identifying one specific […]

5 Ways To Boost Your Enthusiasm

In my last two blogs, I wrote about time management techniques that I have found effective. Shred that To Do list! encouraged you to get rid of To Do lists, and instead schedule your tasks, just as dentists schedule their appointments. All things urgent are not necessarily important. detailed a useful decision-making matrix that Former U.S. […]

All things urgent are not necessarily important.

My last blog encouraged you to do away with your To Do lists and, instead, schedule tasks into a diary. Here is another helpful time management technique that I have used for so many years, it is now my default decision making process. It is the Eisenhower Matrix, developed by former U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower. […]

Shred that To Do list!

I attended a function last night and the topic of time management was raised. During my ten years of dental practice ownership, I read any business book I could get my hands on. One contained a lesson that that I applied daily. I cannot recall from which book I discovered this, but I suggest every […]

Done is better than perfect

How many great opportunities do you miss out on because you are waiting for perfection? “Done is better than perfect” is one of my many mantras. I can feel it when perfection is trying to edge its way in to a project. The red flag for me is when the project is taking more time […]

Just Do It! The attitude to procrastination.

I love the energy that is generated when a team gets together to plan for the future. At such times, team members are functioning from their creative sides and are excited at the prospect of implementing something new or something better. However, it has often has been my experience that by the time the next […]

“Something needs to change!”

  “Something needs to change!” I have had this thought on several occasions during my time working in dental practices. It happens in my personal life too. It is your mind finally reaching its tipping point, saying “enough is enough!” It may be an ineffective system or a team member’s lack of enthusiasm and attention. […]

Why Do We Resist Difficult Discussions?

“I should talk to that employee about her poor performance.” “I have to tell the employee dentist he cannot have a pay rise.” “It’s not working out; I have to let the steri-nurse go.” Difficult discussions are a part of owning a business. However, the thought of having these discussions sends nervous trepidation through many […]

What is your mindset when things go wrong?

  I met Mariam recently, an interesting and inspiring woman. During our conversation, she shared her perspective that there are three mindsets that we can choose from when in conflict and pushing for change. VICTIM: This is egocentric. It is focusing on your personal response to challenging times, at the exclusion of anything else. This […]

What you focus on, grows.

What are your competitors doing? How can you find out? Who can tell you? Meanwhile, what are YOU doing? At times, we fall in to the trap of becoming distracted with our competitors. There are two reasons I encourage you to re-direct your attention. Firstly, I don’t buy in to the concept of ‘competitors’, and […]

I admit it…I faked it!

I faked it…till I made it. I still do it today. I look at where I want to be and become, before I am there. It has been one of the most powerful ways of progressing quickly and intentionally to my next goal. Faking it resets your mindset from where you are to where you […]

Sometimes, there IS harm in asking!

Should I ask for that day off? Should I ask for that pay rise? I should ask that nurse to change her roster around. I can ask the receptionist to add payroll to her job description. Why shouldn’t I ask? They can just say no. “There’s no harm in asking.” I’ve got news for you. […]

Don’t Dumb Me Down! Part #3

In my recent two blogs, I spoke about my experience with my colleague, Rachel. She and I worked together twice. The first time, I was controlling and wanted everything done my way. The second time, I had learned the destructive impact of micro-management and wanted to reform. I was grateful that Rachel agreed to help […]

Don’t Dumb Me Down!..PART #2

In my previous blog, I wrote about becoming a better manager thanks to my experience with Rachel, a lovely lady with whom I had previously worked.  I had been controlling in my working relationship with Rachel. This was an undesirable trait I had recognised only after experiencing a controlling manager myself, when I later worked […]

Don’t Dumb Me Down!

The lesson I am going to tell you about was a big one for me. It has stayed with me, and I tell the story to anyone who will listen. It was the late 90’s, and I was working in the dental practice that immediately preceded me owning my own practice. I was one of […]

I think I may be brilliant!

I may be brilliant. In fact, I have a feeling we are all brilliant, all the time. The number of times that I have felt trapped in a challenge without direction are too numerous to say. The problem plays over monotonously in my head. I feel an urgency to find answers. Unhelpful thoughts like “why […]

Debriefing: A remarkable tool that eases your way to practice success

Not being an academic, I have always sourced alternative methods of education. Books, tapes, videos, audio…I researched everything I could. The introduction of the internet has now revolutionised our access to education and learning and ignorance on a particular topic lasts only as long as it takes to type a question into Google. However, it […]

What if …?

  Throughout my years as a dental practice owner, I remember times when different fears crept in and sat with me a while: “What if my practice is losing patients and I don’t know it?” “What if my best employee leaves?” “What if I am not as good a business manager as I think and […]

Business management was only the SECOND most important skill to master…

I knew, when I first owned my practice, that in order to be successful, I would need to learn what I didn’t know. I knew nothing of financial reports or employment law. I knew nothing of business management or marketing strategies. The list was long. Remaining ignorant would have lead me to failure. So I […]

Are you brave enough to ask?

I loved my years of dental practice ownership. I grew enormously as a person, and it is where I developed my skills as a leader. Someone asked me recently: “What was a key lesson in my leadership journey.” I immediately answered “getting brave enough to ask for feedback”. I had always intended to be an […]

Maybe it’s not them. Maybe it’s you…

I, like many of us, learned early in life that we choose how someone appears to us. I recall a friend I had during my primary school years, Fiona. I had initially disliked Fiona. Not for any legitimate reason, I am sure. I first looked at Fiona and judged all she did as silly and […]

Embrace what you fear and live BIG!

We all experience fear. We feel fear during life-threatening events such as narrowly avoiding a bad car crash, all the way to fears of performing in public or social situations. After I purchased my dental practice in 2003, I quickly realised I had to address a fear I had developed. Fear of failure. Initially I […]

Three Techniques to Regain your Peace

In my last blog I wrote about ‘stuck thoughts’. These are the lingering feelings and thoughts that remain despite a challenging situation being resolved. The reason these thoughts and feelings become stuck is because the reaction is coming from our SUBCONSCIOUS mind. The subconscious mind is the more powerful part of our brains. Where our […]

Stuck thoughts getting you down?

Have you done this before? A challenging situation arises at the practice. Everyone has their own thoughts of how best to manage it. A resolution is found and the issue is put to rest. You thought. The scenario keeps playing on your mind. You are distracted by it. The team have already moved on and […]

That winning feeling….It’s worth the effort!

In my last blog I shared with you by ongoing wish to get better results. And, that to get better results, I have to BE better. To achieve greater and greater progress and success in life, we need to be on a path of continuous improvement. Tony Robbins coined the term CANI: Constant And Never-ending […]

I am proud, because of this…

Of all of my management skills, I am most proud of this one. I get better. I am better than I was when I started. I am better than I was yesterday. Improvement is truly exciting. Imagine being so stuck in our habits and behaviours that we manage things the same way every day, achieving […]

You must be true to your word

Developing a set of principles that drive your leadership is one of the most important things you can do. But it can get tough… I have found that with each and every principle I adopt, I am tested. This happens in every area of life. I don’t know whether it is a ‘universal law’ but […]

“Be curious, not judgemental” Part III

In the last two blogs I have discussed my awareness around how my judging of people was hampering my success when problem-solving and reaching solutions to the many challenges of practice management. The problem with the judgements we make about people is that we are forming an opinion without all of the information. If we […]

“Be curious, not judgemental” Part II

In my previous blog I spoke about how I was sabotaging my effectiveness in problem-solving by falling in to a natural human behaviour: Being JUDGEMENTAL. Instead of being curious about the reasons people did what they did, I was allowing my judgemental mind to block the creative thought processes required to successfully develop solutions to […]

“Be curious, not judgemental” Part I

Managing a dental practice, like any business, is about finding solutions. Solutions to patients’ oral problems, solutions to the barriers that staff come up against when performing throughout the day and solutions that will lead the practice to business viability and success. What I found very early on was that I was sabotaging my own […]

Avoid Groundhog Day with 3 Simple Steps

I am sure that I am not the only one that has fallen in to the trap of ‘Groundhog Day’. Getting up each morning, like every other morning, and doing generally the same stuff. But nothing changes if nothing changes. Many years ago I started a routine of 3 simple steps that have now developed […]

Why you MUST master your EI!

I have always loved working with teams. Identifying and overcoming the barriers of achieving top performance has been a consistent source of enjoyment and satisfaction for me. I have found the key influencing factor that determines the quality of performance is the measure of our emotional intelligence, our ‘EI’. Emotional intelligence is the ability to […]

Do you have the ‘generosity gene’?

One of my unofficial mentors over the years has been Jack Welch, former CEO of General Electric. Welch is considered an expert in business and leadership, with the value of GE rising in value by 4,000% during his 20 years at the helm. During his many years in business, Welch has managed many people in […]

Are you feeling resentful?

Many tasks of everyday life in a dental practice can become tedious. Often the same person finds they always seem to be the one either taking the A-frame sign in and out, or the rubbish bins out on bin day, or tidying the staff kitchen. We persevere because these things need to be done in […]

This one thing transformed my working relationships

When I owned my practice I knew something for sure: that it was in my interests (and therefore the business’ interests) to be welcoming of all needs and comments from staff. Whether it was surgery staff needing something, hearing a concern about another team member or someone’s request for holiday leave. In order to manage […]

Did I really expect a good result from THIS?

I’m going to tell you a story. It’s a story of a time that I am not proud of…but am grateful for. Grateful because it established in me a commitment to never repeat this behaviour. It occurred about a year or so prior to me buying my dental practice in Brighton, Victoria. I was working […]

Crushed By Criticism?

Giving and receiving negative feedback is fraught with anxiety for all involved. For the deliverer it requires a thoughtful approach. But even when a lot of care is taken, the receiver can still react with anger. For the recipient of negative feedback, the initial response is to feel threatened and challenged. Why do we react […]

Continuous Improvement Through ‘CANI’

It’s easy to let our days become monotonous. We turn up to the same place and perform the same general functions. If we do not make this time more meaningful, we run the risk of it slowly becoming meaningless. I found that giving myself daily ‘projects’ helped me start every day off inspired. During the […]

Expectations = Disappointment?

When I bought my practice in 2003 I quickly learned that things were no longer straightforward. Whether I was organising finance for an equipment purchase, arranging a staff dinner or achieving a ‘well-planned for’ goal, the path always threw up ‘interesting’ barriers. Initially these interruptions to progress frustrated me enormously. I was a ‘planner’, and […]

Do You Need to Control Your Impulses?

Self-control is a vital skill to master when you are managing a group of people. I know from my early practice-ownership days that certain situations would challenge me. Such as staff calling in sick, not checking lab work had arrived for an imminent insert appointment and staff not following a process that had already been […]

7 Signs You Are Not Self-Aware

Your level of self-awareness plays a vital role in your ability to be an effective leader, manager or team member. To work well with others we must first seek to understand ourselves. This journey of self-awareness is one that is life-long. It is constructed of ups and downs, happy times and worrying times. You are […]

Succeeding, Despite Self-Doubt!

  I am sure you have imagined how your life would play out if you lived without any self-doubt. Or, maybe you are afraid to see what that life would look like, as Marianne Williamson says, “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. […]

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER