SMC National logo
New call-to-action

What is the Right Way to Evaluate Your Dental Team?

SMC

If you’re running a dental group or DSO, you know the importance of assessing your team’s performance. But what’s the best way?

The easy answer is often production. How many patients does each dentist or hygienist see? What is the dollar value of their procedures? Who is bringing home the bacon and who is lagging behind?

The problem is that by associating production with performance, you’re essentially incentivizing your team to do two things. First, get each patient in and out as quickly as possible, and second, push patients towards higher-dollar procedures that they may not need.

That’s a recipe for burnout, resentment, and short-term profits combined with long-term failure. 

Instead, try measuring your team by more comprehensive, sustainable metrics. For each doctor or hygienist, consider: how do fellow team members feel about them? How about their patients? Do they take the time to listen and build relationships with the people they care for? Do they do quality work and represent the practice well?

For each metric, too, consider how you can give each team member the tools to improve. This can be anything from a kind word or a little encouragement to something more substantial like coaching or mentoring.

You may sacrifice a little temporary profit. But you’ll gain lasting rewards.

You may also like:

How Dentists Can Attract and Retain Top Talent

Ensure your dental practice's long-term success by learning how to hire and keep exceptional associates, hygienists, and support team members.
Read More

Dentists, Stop Writing Off Callers Who Ask About Price

Why dental practices need to respect leads who ask about price during an initial phone call — and how to turn those calls into scheduled ...
Read More

Full-Arch Growth: Your Guide to Lead Nurturing

Learn how to build relationships with full-arch dental implant leads so you can turn more of them into patients.
Read More

5 powerful growth hacks. Yours monthly.

Get the Dental Marketing Digest.

Learn how top dental marketers create new patients

Join the Dental Marketing Digest newsletter from Gary Bird and SMC. 

  • 5 fresh growth hacks each month
  • Boost conversion, retention, and referrals
  • Always free
Join free