As a dentist, you can tell if it's going to be a good day or a tough day with one glance at the schedule. This becomes evident based on how many patients you'll be seeing, who they are and the types of cases; you can tell pretty quickly what to expect from the day in terms of production, challenges and professional satisfaction.

Of course that schedule didn't just construct itself that day. Today is programmed by the choices made and the actions you took in earlier days. This means of course that tomorrow's schedule—and next week's and next month's—are going be driven in large measure by the mindful actions you take today.

This can be easy to forget, especially when you are particularly stressed and busy and are just looking to get through the day. The reality is that the only way out of that cycle of hamster-wheel busyness is by putting the pieces in place today that will let you have a more fulfilling tomorrow.

This is not just about strategic scheduling. It's also about doing the right things now that will lead you to have more of the right kinds of cases in the days and weeks ahead—the kind of cases that can be used to populate a balanced and productive schedule.

For example, let's say you have a patient in hygiene, or an urgent need patient and you can see a host of issues that should be addressed, or at least discussed, but you simply don't have time to discuss their issues in detail because you have other patients waiting. Why not plant a seed with this patient? Why not explain that you see things that are of concern and that you would like them to arrange to come back soon for a fuller evaluation? Create a sense of urgency that inspires them to want to come back primed to think about comprehensive care. This is the kind of quick discussion that pays off over time and ultimately keeps the pipeline of interesting and satisfying cases flowing.

It's a simple matter of asking yourself two questions as you approach each day:

1. "What can I do to get the most enjoyment and fulfilment from this day?"

2. "What I can I do today that will give me an opportunity to improve tomorrow?"

Keeping an eye on the future like this is what it means to be visionary and forward thinking on a day-to-day basis. This is how great careers in dentistry are built.

Be first to post a comment