Dental Office Time Management Skills
Dental office time management is a skill. But a skill that many teams struggle with. However, just one key team member can shift the day! And other team members can learn from them. Maybe your practice struggles with time management. And just maybe you are that team key member to lead the way!
However, keep one thing in mind. The only person we can truly change is ourselves. And that is a big enough task in itself! But, we influence the lives we work with every day. So, if you are ready for the challenge, let’s do this!
The Work
To make a change, we create the change. We take a leap and do things differently. That’s the only way change occurs. But the good news is, it’s only different for a short while. And then, it’s the new normal. Wouldn’t you like to be on time, on track, and on target?
Here is a list of some things to consider. Please take a moment and read through it. Can you identify an area or two you might want to improve? Perhaps there is a specific item in the list you wish to tackle first? Today is a good day to create the change you want in your dental office day!
Time Management List
- Organize your works space & reorganize weekly
- Arrive 15 minutes earlier in the day
- Prioritize (Weekly Management Systems)
- Use technology and keep it updated
- Give yourself breaks
- Focus on one task at a time
- Celebrate success
Dental Office Time Management
is Simple
How easy is that? Well, if it were that easy, everyone would do it! Or everyone would know how to do it. But that simply isn’t the case. And although the list is easy to understand, it’s another thing to implement.
What’s the biggest challenge for you in this list? Let’s run quickly through this list one line item at a time. And maybe we will learn something new about our work habits. Because much of our daily routine is simply habit. Now remember, we want to make a change. So, let’s consider what we can change here!
Organize!
Where is my pen? And what did I do with that letter? I know I have envelopes here somewhere! Is this something you hear or say? Maybe you choose to keep it to yourself and just think it! But workspace organization is huge! Drawers, desktops, and cabinets allow us space to organize our supplies. Or not?!
Arrive 15 Minutes Earlier
Ouch! That one hurts!! But it’s so helpful. Come into the office and just take a deep breath. Turn everything on, make some tea, and ease into the day. Listen to voicemail messages and really take a moment to get ready for the day to begin. It makes for such a better day!
Prioritize For Dental Office
Time Management
Dental office time management is prioritized for you already. My Weekly Management Systems and Dental Front Office Checklist are available for you to use. Take advantage of these tools and customize them to best suit your practice needs. You’ll know just what to do and when with the Dental Front Office Checklist!
Technology
I’m old. Old enough to remember a time before computers. And yes, before cell phones too. I’m amazed at what we have available to us today. And at people who prefer manual labor to technology. Save manual labor for the good stuff. The good stuff like patient relations and team building. And put every task technology can handle right where it belongs! And that is off your plate.
Breaks
This is my stumbling block. I’m a bit of a slave driver. It’s just in my nature to work and work hard. No breaks allowed! But it makes such a difference in the day when we breathe. During the pandemic, I took a class on breathing. Breathing for relaxation and rejuvenation. And I realized how much I don’t breathe. And how much better I feel when I do! Take a step away. Breathe!
Focus
How many things can we juggle at once? In dentistry, we juggle all day, every day! Right? It’s not the best way to work through out day. In fact, it’s exhausting. With the help of all the other tools listed above, we can better focus. Organize, use technology and weekly management systems. Arrive 15 minutes early rather than 5 minutes late. And breathe throughout the day. Focus becomes much easier now.
Dental Office Time Management Success
I just love celebrations! Maybe a big bouquet of flowers on the desk. Or perhaps my very favorite ice cream cone at lunch! Whatever it is you enjoy, do it! We want to mark our success each and ever day. Because each and every day counts. Each day is one more day we were here to live, breathe, and be.
Here’s to better dental office days!
