To Much To Do So Little Time
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Too much to do, Too little time is an all too familiar phrase in the current economic slowdown so it is not surprising then that the most common form of stress experienced by dental practice owners is the feeling of being overwhelmed.
“TIME POVERTY” is the biggest single problem facing the dental profession today and with many practice management plans failing to take this important factor into account, staff and often the dental practice management team, are overworked and susceptible to work-related stress.
Due to budget limitations, staff motivation and training, downsizing, patient care and time needed with treatment planning, and then competitive pressures, this means that individual practice managers and principals are forced to take on more and more work, all of which appears to be indispensable to the smooth functioning of the dental practice.
Spreading yourself too thinly can be one of the worst things you can do and can often lead to unproductive behaviours by both dentists and the dental practice management team. Unproductive behaviours can include procrastination, blaming anyone other than yourself, poor standards, waiting for a better time to do the work and generally never feeling that you are progressing in any way. These behaviours lead to unfulfilling work and lower profits, not to mention lower standards of care.
Spreading yourself too thinly can be one of the worst things you can do and can often lead to unproductive behaviours by both dentists and the dental practice management team. Unproductive behaviours can include procrastination, blaming anyone other than yourself, poor standards, waiting for a better time to do the work and generally never feeling that you are progressing in any way. These behaviours lead to unfulfilling work and lower profits, not to mention lower standards of care.
By asking yourself some simple questions such as how genuine is your smile when you are under stress?, how effective and productive are you when you are pushed for time?, how much do you dislike your job when you are under pressure and in this mind set are you taking your business forward?, can demonstrate how these negative feelings can impact greatly on your dental practice management programme.
When stress is able to creep in, it can result in to job dissatisfaction, where you no longer enjoy the practice of dentistry, but many fail to ask themselves why this is and find it all too easy to blame patients and unmotivated staff. We tend to end up feeling like there is no way out and this is the way it will remain.
As a dental practice owner we need to take a step back and re- evaluate our situations. We need to ask ourselves – What are we trying to achieve? We then need to figure out the steps that will take us there. A main focus in the any cosmetic dentist management programme should be the recognition of common time-wasters, as these can distract from the job at hand.
The most common time wasters:
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The art of leadership and delegation is what will eventually save the day. As a dental practice owner, you need to be more visionary in your role in order for you to take your practice forward.
Time management is about doing your job in the most efficient way possible to maximise profits and enjoyment.
The two indispensable keys to the practice of time organisation are the ability to set priorities and the ability to concentrate on one thing at any one time. Since there is never enough time to do everything that needs to be done, you must be continually setting priorities on your activities. Perhaps the very best question that you can memorize and repeat, over and over, is, “What is the most valuable use of my time right now?”
This question will do more to keep you on track, hour by hour, than any other single question in the list of time management strategies.
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About Dental WEALTH Builder
Dental WEALTH Builder primarily focuses on Creating Practice Profits, Cost-Effective Marketing and Growth Strategies in Dentistry.
Editor’s Note: Dental WEALTH Builder is represented by search engine optimisation agency, Top Position. Please direct all press queries to Tina Clough. Email: tina@topposition.co.uk or call: 01623 726233
Dr. Doshi is a dental coach who understands the trials and tribulations of us dentists because she’s been there herself. She is a consultant dentist in business management. This is what makes her consulting, dental management and marketing advice so apt. 
The business of dentistry is now made easy. This programme allowed me to have my very own dental consultant in my own practice ALL the time. It made team management and dental marketing easier to action with very high results. I now have a fantastic marketing programme and an excellent team to go with it. AND I have the financial results to prove it. I have doubled my income in just a few months.
