Circumferences and Centers?

Ok, so it's been a while, right?  Well, we're short-staffed right now, so that means I'm working harder.  Actually, we all are.  The last thing I wrote on here was the question, "Who steals your peace?"  Well, one of my answers would have been, "People who resign with little notice, especially after I've spent a year training them!"

You can relate, right?  It's so frustrating, you spend time training, you learn to work with their strengths and work around their weaknesses, and then, poof!, they're gone.  

This is all very annoying if you are spending a lot of time living on the circumference, or edge of your practice.  On the edge, things happen that affect the center for a short time, but fall away only to be replaced by similar things that might be a little better, or slightly worse.  Those areas continue to fall away and be replaced, and generally have limited, short-term effect on the whole, as long as the center is strong.  Unfortunately, that's where we often place our greatest attention because the effects seem to be so impactful, but we need to realize, the impact is short-lived.  We need to understand our center and trust that it will hold.

The edge is the beginning point - for a new employee, new product, new patient, new procedure, etc.  As they move closer to the center we can see if they fit in, enhance, grow, and work with the center.  The center is the heart of the practice - the dentist, the long-term employees, the patients, the basic, reliable products and procedures and policies.  

We begin on the edge and we can observe the employee deciding, "Is this something I can be, will be, part of?  Will I join in and work toward this center or will I stay out here on the edge?"  The questions are there and you can quickly see the natural inclination of the employee.  

Next, we can sense discipline, or lack of it.  Will the employee try to: learn to do what you need them to do, know what they need to know, understand where you're coming from and where you want them to join you?  If the answer is no, they will remain circumfrential, and eventually fall away.  If the answer is yes they will move closer to the center of your practice.  

Now, we will see thought come into play.  Are they thoughtful about what they are doing, or are they going through the motions.  That will make the difference between whether they will become engaged innovators who will be looking for ways to make things better, or if they will just do enough, which will eventually drag them back to the edge where you may allow them to hang out, or they will move on.  

Finally, you will see action in the center.  They will bring new ideas, research new products, think of new ways to serve the practice, the patients and each other better.  They become a part of the heart of the practice.

Figure this out.  Watch to see where your employees settle in.  Then you won't be so frustrated when someone drops off the edge.  Then you will know who is part of the heart of the practice and that's where your concern should rest.  When you know all this, you will sense an awakening within yourself and a resting.  You will care, and not care at all because you will know what actually is.  In the end, we do not find the center of our practice, it reveals itself to us.  We have to stop reacting to the distractions at the edges and keep our eye on the center so we can see it.

 

Comments

[Beverly Hills Dentist Guy]

This is a great post that makes me think of my practice in a different light. The center vs. the edge of the practice is a great lens for looking at the practice. I can see and have seen the effects the edge breaking up the center but the center always coming back together. I'll try to think more of the center and see how the edge can be fortified.

[Linda Zdanowicz]

The edge isn't a bad thing, it's a starting point. Think about a pool. If it didn't have an edge, it wouldn't have the function it has. The thing is to move off the edge and into the center. If you stand at the edge of a pool and never jump in, you won't get the whole experience and might as well be standing on the edge of a cliff for all it matters. The edge also buys us time to evaluate how things are as they approach the center. This is important and our responsibility is to protect the integrity of the center. It it won't help, and won't support, keep it out.

[Dentist in brooklyn]

Nice post !!
I think tough schedule is good for the fitness but it is not good for the mind peace, new employes are headache!

[dental implants memphis]

hen you know part of the heart of the practice and that's where your concern should rest. Once you know all this, you have the feeling of waking up in yourself and rest. You will care and no care at all because you know what really is. Finally, we can not find the center of our practice, it is revealed to us. We need to stop reacting to distractions on the edges and keep our eyes on the middle so we can see.

[Periodontist Beverly Hills]

Interesting and nice blog, thanks for sharing.

[Dentist Gleniris Emergency Dentist]

I'll make this site of yours as one of my reference in my studies as a dentist. Thanks for being an inspiration to me.

[memphis dentists]

It is my honor and privileged to found and read your post. It made me learn a lot of different ideas. Keep up the good work.