You’re sitting in the exam room. You listen as a hygienist explains to the patient what’s wrong with a specific tooth. As your hygienist speaks, they stumble over their words, and they forget a couple details.
After the patient leaves, the hygienist comes to you for feedback, and you say with a polite smile, “That was good!”
Don’t say “that was good” if it wasn’t that good!
Too often, dentists sugar coat the truth. They don’t want to sound mean or hurt someone’s feelings. Here at ACT, we have a saying: “It’s better to be clear than be nice.”
The team only improves when you’re honest and clear. Clear isn’t mean; clear is kind!
Be upfront about what they need to work on. When you’re specific, team members know exactly where they stand, and they know what needs to change. Honesty helps them succeed, and when one person succeeds, the whole team succeeds.
There are other times when dentists should cut straight to the chase. If your team is unaligned, you have to be honest and clear about that, too! Check out this quick read on how to align your dental team.