Autumn 2021
Empowering a Workforce Through Support and Purpose Andrea Frohning
Being A Leader Begins With Being Yourself Angela Davis Sullivan
The Pandemic: A Story of Resilience Allison Lacoursiere
Achieving Success By Embracing the Woman Within
Jumoke Adedoyin, DDS, MICOI, MAAIP
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If you attended our 2020 Virtual DeW Life Retreat, you may recall Dr. Sharon Parson’s parting words, “It is our time. Our time is Now!”
Autumn 2021 Editor and Publisher Anne M. Duffy, RDH Assistant Editor
Charter Sponsors A-dec Crest Mary Fisher-Day
Julia Anabo Director of Operations Nicki Mackey Director of Strategic Partnerships Jamie Falasz Senior Sales Assoc. Michelle Watkins Design and Layout Brian Rummel Production [CURAtive] James B. Kennedy Cover Photo Katie Spata Photography Autumn Contributors Dr. Jumoke Adedoyin Kristy Menage Bernie Julie Friesen Andrea Frohning Allison Lacoursiere Dr. Isabel Rambob Cindy Rogers Angela Davis Sullivan Marketing Redwood Designs Web Management Bhakti Kulmala
Inspired Hygiene Patterson D5 Patterson Fuse Shofu
Editorial Office 12233 Pine Valley Club Dr Charlotte, NC 28277 704-953-0261 Fax 704-847-3315 anneduffy@dew.life Send materials to: DeW Life Magazine 8334 Pineville Matthews Rd Ste. 103-201 Charlotte, NC 28226 Guidelines go to dew.life
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Advisory Board Emeritus Linda Miles Advisors to the Board Victoria Peterson Katherine Eitel-Belt Board Dr. Meghna Dassani Cris Duval Vanessa Emerson Dr. Hazel Glasper Jasmin Haley Suzanne Kump Tonya Lanthier Dr. Laura Mach JoAn Majors Rachel Wall Junior Board Dr. Shakila Angadi Christie Bailey Dr. Erinne Kennedy Minal Sampat Dr. Amisha Singh
With all that is going on in the world, this proclamation resonates more than ever before. Everything is open for change and reinvention. Start today. This is our time! The world is waiting for us. For women that means leaning into their feminine leadership. Yes, it is empathic, kind, thoughtful, compassionate, collaborative. Wrap your arms around that which comes natural to you and reimagine what you have dreamed about for yourself, your family, your clients and the greater good. Remember, in our community, you are not alone. See Amy Poehler’s quote on our back cover! The next thing to commit to is DeW Principle #9: Start and don’t stop. You will recognize strong female leadership in this edition. It is my honor to share their articles with you. Please read us cover to cover and discover the beauty and wisdom in our authors’ words. Reach out and let them know how they made you feel. Connect with a new DeW today! We open with an amazing DeW, Andrea Frohning, Chief Human Resource officer for Patterson Dental. At our first virtual meeting, I was elated to learn, she lives a few miles from me! We made a date and met in person at my kitchen island, enjoying a cup of coffee and of course, homemade muffins. Ah, the joys of DeWing coffee and chatting face to face! You will appreciate how she came to the dental industry and her mission to impact the status quo. Dr. Isabel Rambob discusses how to overcome the aversion to and embrace the necessity and value of networking. Kristy Menage Bernie’s article demonstrates the value of play in combating anxiety and lifting up our mental health, as well triggering ideas in our professions. Angela Davis Sullivan points out how to identify and hurdle the possible roadblocks we can encounter when we’re developing our own leadership style. And the unique power of women–our feminine qualities, nuances, and strengths–that is examined and hailed by Dr. Jumoke Adedoyin in her article embodies so much of what DeW stands for. It deserves a standing ovation! We can’t wait to see so many of you face to face in November, in Charlotte, NC at our 3rd Annual Retreat. All that feminine energy in one room is sure to change the world! Keep DeWing!
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Autumn '2 1 DeWers
6 Empowering a Workforce Through Support and Purpose Andrea Frohning
DeW Dish
Joy Poskozim 10 Dr. Sayna Behkar
Kari Carter-Cherelus
Living Your Strengths
14 Being A Leader Begins with Being Yourself
Angela Davis Sullivan
Resilience
18 The Pandemic: A Story of Resilience Allison Lacoursiere
Success
22 Achieving Success By Embracing the Woman Within
Jumoke Adedoyin, DDS, MICOI, MAAIP
26 Unlocking the Power of Networking Isabel Rambob, DDS
28 This Will Supercharge Your Impact In Dentistry - It Did Mine! Julie Friesen
32 Crushing Candy: Pandemic Mental Health Strategies and Beyond! Kristy Menage Bernie, RDH, MS, RYT
Reflection
36 Put Down That Scaler and Take a Hike
Cindy Rogers, RDH
DeWERS
EMPOWERING A WORKFORCE THROUGH SUPPORT AND PURPOSE By Andrea Frohning
T
here is an old saying that you are the sum of the company that you keep. I very much believe that to be true and have been deliberate over the course of my personal and professional life to surround myself with people who are positive influences. Whether it was recognizing the importance of a strong work ethic and prioritizing family from my parents, or recognizing how to create a workplace where people feel supported and empowered, my mission has been to not only stay connected with good people, but to connect them with each other as well.
was the “office manager” even though we didn’t really have a title for her, but she ensured all the books were kept very well and all the inventory was accounted for. We didn’t take family vacations, we didn’t travel, but we spent all our time together working extremely long hours from spring to late fall. I was driving trucks, helping to put up grain bins, and going on service calls with my dad from a young age. I loved my childhood and am grateful for these life lessons that I was able to learn from my parents.
Early life
After graduating from high school as valedictorian and completing undergrad, I was debating between medical school or pursuing business. I chose to work in a medical center for a couple of years in a cancer center, assisting with bone marrow biopsies and then later with collecting research information on patients and following their outcomes with clinical trials. It is during that time that I got involved with a project focused on reducing turnover of the nursing staff. This is what sparked my interest in human resources. Shortly after that, I enrolled in graduate school to get my master’s degree.
I consider myself a small-town girl. Growing up in southern Illinois (about 20 miles from Effingham), I was involved in all sorts of activities at my small high school– band, school newspaper, track, basketball, softball, and volleyball. I learned a lot about myself through competing in sports. First, the value of teamwork and relying on one another. Second, that I always wanted the ball. If the game came down to a final block, final spike, or final shot–I wanted the ball. I had faith in myself and wanted the trust of my teammates to make (or break) the game. This scenario was one that would help propel my career when it came down to critical moments. My parents owned an agriculture business for 50 years. My father started the business when he was 18 years old and had a work ethic like no one I’ve ever seen. My mom
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Career
Over the next years working at companies like Pepsi, GE, Hubbell, and Snyder’s-Lance, I learned that being able to balance the needs of the business with the needs of the people did not have to be contradicting, rather they were complementary. Doing what is best for employees and putting them first is directly correlated to the success
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DeWERS of a company. This opportunity to drive culture change is what brought me to Patterson Companies three years ago. I chose to join Patterson because of the direction Mark Walchirk was looking to take the company. We shared a vision on how to get results and invest in our employees. For me, being a human resource leader is a lot like gardening and growing flowers. Anyone who gardens knows that it’s all about creating an environment where things can grow, nurturing the seeds to get them to sprout and develop, and then taking care of them so they can produce the most amazing flavors, scents, or flowers. Creating a company culture is very similar. Creating a strong positive culture also takes work–it takes commitment by everyone in the company to create the best environment for us all to work, grow, and to develop to our fullest potential.
Connecting women through mentorship I’ve been blessed with wonderful mentors throughout my career, such as my former boss, the CHRO at Hubell who encouraged me to pursue my career ambitions, as well as working mothers in a number of management and mid-level positions. I’m a believer that mentorship does not have to be hierarchical. These mentors taught me empathy, how to be a great leader, and helped me work through being a mother while working full time. Today, I try to pass that on and serve as a mentor for men and women. Sometimes it’s a little harder for women to find mentors, so at Patterson we wanted to break down silos and create ways for women to connect. From that idea we established the Women’s Mentoring Program. Now in its second year, the program launched across the entire company during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mentors and mentees were paired and met (virtually) regularly, along with a monthly peer-to-peer circle for all mentees. Both avenues provide the mentees with the chance to develop leadership skills and learn what they want to achieve both personally and professionally. The feedback has been extremely positive with mentors saying they are getting just as much (or more) out of their meetings as the mentees. We wanted to create a platform where they could use their voice and have access to someone providing direction and the sound advice they craved. One of our mentees told us, “This has been such a blessing in terms of my career growth. My mentor gives me a perspective that I might have otherwise missed and empowers me as a working female.”
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A focus on diversity and inclusion Along with the Women’s Mentoring Program, I’m extremely proud of our efforts within the diversity and inclusion space. Patterson has been around for more than 100 years and we needed to emerge with where we were going and what we stood for. The work started well before the civil unrest that took place last summer, but those events justified that we were heading in the right direction. In looking at internal stats and surveying employees, we realized our people were hungry for a deeper meaning into what Patterson represented. We redefined our Purpose, Vision, and Values and those words became our guiding light for how we connected our content and messaging to the bigger Patterson picture. A task force made up of 40 volunteers from all the areas of the company was created called “Patterson UNITES.” The group is focused on putting meaningful action behind D&I initiatives so that we aren’t just “talking the talk.” They are developing strategy for the next three to five years in key workstreams that consist of engaging with employees and our community, equipping managers with the training and support to lead these efforts, and identifying new and diverse candidate sources for hiring and recruiting. Our diversity and inclusion initiatives are not only providing a deeper sense of community and purpose, but also allowing us to attract a larger talent pool to enhance our workforce.
Adjusting during the pandemic During the pandemic, human resource professionals were put in a particularly highly visible and critical role. I again found myself in a position where I needed to lead–I needed to make the shot. We had decisions to make about our workforce and needed to act quickly. I so greatly appreciate the leadership of our CEO, Mark Walchirk, and the rest of our executive team. We made tough decisions, and many were different than those of a lot of companies. We chose not to reduce our workforce, and we chose not to terminate any employees. We instead leveraged an “in this together” approach, where the senior team took salary reductions of 30-35% and all other members of the management team and individual contributors also took salary reductions. We leveraged some furloughs and some reduced hours, but did so on a rotating basis so that no one individual was furloughed for an extended period. Looking back, those decisions we made demonstrated to our employees that we truly live our values. Not only did we survive–we thrived.
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Like mother, like son I have two boys, ages 12 and 13. My husband Sam and I try our best to raise them with a positive, grateful, workhard, be-kind attitude. My oldest son, Morgan, plays baseball for his school and in a travel team. This past spring, as his Weddington Wildcat team was in the final game of the championship playoffs, with two opponents on base, the batter hit a pop-up between home plate and third. Morgan, who is the catcher for our team, jumped up, threw his mask off and shouted, “I got it! I got it! I got it!” When I saw my son wanting the ball at the critical moment just as I had throughout the years in sports and my career–it was truly a proud mom moment. And as he caught the ball for the final out to win the game, I sat back with tears in my eyes, full of pride and joy. Whether it’s my personal or professional life, the importance of having stronger leaders and mentors has remained consistent in everything I do. I am thankful that I’ve had the opportunity to have so many impactful women in my life and enjoy finding new ways to pay it forward with other women at every stage of their careers.
About the author: Andrea Frohning has worked in Human Resources for 23 years, 15 of those in director and executive roles. She has managed large teams across North America, Europe, and Asia. Andrea is currently the Chief Human Resource Officer at Patterson Companies, where she is dedicated to enabling high performance and creating a positive culture where employees are valued and can be their true authentic selves. She has been a driver of Patterson’s Diversity and Inclusion initiatives and establishing strategies to attract and develop top talent across all Patterson locations. She is the proud Mother of two boys and enjoys watching them play sports in their hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina. Andrea prefers spending her time outdoors gardening, fishing, swimming, and any activity that involves being with her family.
DeW Dish 10
JOY V. POSKOZIM, DDS, FSCD, CDP
joyfuldentalcare.com, joyposkozimdds.com
What advice do you have for the new person in your office? Ask questions! Every dental office is different, and we all have various ways of doing things. Every question is welcome. Good open communication is everything.
What is your favorite Indoor/Outdoor Activity? When we bought our house last year, the first thing we got was a fire pit. Nothing relaxes me more than creating, nurturing, and maintaining a fire. Helps me clear my mind.
What famous person living or dead would you like to have lunch with and what would you ask them? This woman is my hero! Dr. Leonie von MeusebachZesch was the first mobile dentist in the US, doing mobile dentistry in 1912, in Arizona in her Model T Ford; then dog sleds in Alaska.
They are playing your theme song as you walk on stage. Name that tune! What is the best part of your job? Which one? LOL! Had an at-home patient recently who is nearly blind. She and her family were concerned about her loose denture. After figuring out a simple solution for her, she reached out for my hand. I was kneeling beside her wheelchair so we could be at the same level. We held hands as she told me about herself. So sweet and kind. Priceless.
How do you measure your success? Happy patients. Loyal staff. Caregivers who make the point to say ‘hi’ to me in the halls of the homes I go to. Requests for my presentations on geriatric dental home care. One day at a time. One moment at a time.
What obstacles have you overcome in your career? The first year I owned Joyful Dental Care I developed vertigo, and it nearly destroyed my career. No medications helped, and the first ENT I went to made it worse. A patient of mine introduced me to a balance clinic outside of Chicago. That physical therapist changed my life. Took about three months, going to see him about twice a week. Better now!
“Rise” by Katy Perry. “...I call on my angels. They say Oh, ye of so little faith Don't doubt it, don't doubt it. Victory is in your veins...."
What is your dream vacation? Would love to have enough consecutive time off where I can go and write a novel. Started it in rural WI at an amazing cabin. Definitely on my bucket list!
What is first on your dental bucket list? We have 1200 sq ft in our new office that did not get built out due to running out of monies. Would love to have a sleep apnea specialist, a chiropractor, and intraoral massage therapy for those with TMJD–an "overall health" clinic with a dietician too! Love helping my patients to achieve good total health.
What is the best gift you ever received? My engagement ring. I was such a late bloomer when it came to dating! So tall and shy. Truly never thought I would get married. Funny story: he proposed at a restaurant, but we were at a high-top table so he would have been reaching way up if he got on one knee to propose! We laughed so hard.
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KARI CARTER-CHERELUS DA, RDH bit.ly/burnoutdentalhygienist
What obstacles have you overcome in your career? Unfortunately, I have worked in environments that were hostile. I faced bullying, microaggressions, gaslighting, and even racist behavior. I became burnt out and even dealt with PTSD. I now passionately speak about burnout and overcoming hostile work environments and wrote the book The Ultimate Guide For Dental Hygienist Burnout to help others.
What do you do to turn around a bad day? I don't often have bad days but when I do, I try to remember it's only one day. The next day always holds the promise of a fresh start. My playlist to get over a bad day is to pray, meditate, listen to motivational compilations on YouTube, eat some comfort food, go for a run, watch a favorite movie, or call up a friend or my mom and tell them how I am feeling.
What is your guilty pleasure?
What is the best part of your job?
I love good food, good movies, a good laugh, and a good long conversation. I also keep up to date on the gossip about the Royals of Britain. No Megan Markle hate tolerated!
It is encouraging to receive messages from clients and others who tell me how something I said or wrote What advice do you have for the new person motivated them to make positive changes in their life. in your office? Often I am told that someone left a job that no longer It's important to take the time to get familiar with your served them. I love being told that they started taking new position and how the office operates. No matter how better care of themselves in multiple areas of their life much experience you may have you still can learn from and are reaping benefits. others, so ask questions!
Who has been the most influential woman in your life?
What “DeW” leaders do?
Leaders see the big picture by recognizing that in order My grandmother helped instill the entrepreneurial spirit for an organization to be successful, the growth of all in me as well as my love of traveling. She had several team members is necessary. Leaders inspire, support, successful businesses and traveled the world. My and share their vision with all. mother taught me the importance of loving your family unconditionally and to always give support to others even if that is in the form of just listening to others pouring out What is your favorite Indoor/Outdoor their hearts.
Activity?
How do you measure your success?
I enjoy jogging because it helps me to practice self care. When I jog, I am able to release endorphins, various I measure my success in the lives I have been able to emotions, meditate, as well as think about my latest affect positively in some way. My goal is to empower projects and my goals. others to make positive changes within their lives and to get unstuck. When I hear others are doing this, I feel fulfilled.
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SAYNA BEHKAR
Instagram: @Sayna.r.t
With the effort that I put into this path and the positive outcomes that I get, I feel like I’m getting closer and closer to the goals that I have, and it really makes me feel successful and powerful. I just never forget where and when I started and when I’m looking at my current status and where I am now, I really get proud of myself and inspire myself to even do more. Improving myself day by day and noticing the progress that I have is how I can measure my success and get the motivation that I need.
What obstacles have you overcome in your career?
Who has been the most influential woman in your life? My mother has always been a really powerful role model for me. The way that she stands tall in front of all her problems gives me courage to fight more with my problems and get the things that I want. Also, the advice that she gave me is more valuable than everything I have. She has always told me to stand on my own in my life, put my hand in my pocket, and never need anyone to live my life. She always motivates me to not only work really hard for my goals, but also always emphasizes to give a hand to people and motivate them as well to uplift themselves to higher positions and not to lose hope. The number of things that she taught me is uncountable, but the last thing that I want to mention is to really love and respect myself, do as much as I can and feel satisfied about myself in any situation that I’m in, and never forget that I’m enough the way that I am.
How do you measure your success? When I got admission to university, I set some goals for myself and took a note of the things that I want to do and where I really want to be. I try to keep them as high as possible to work as much as I can.
When I decided to move to another country to study at university, my father wasn’t sure about the decision I made. It was a really long and hard period of time for me to overcome his point of view and make him believe that the plans I had in my mind can absolutely be the best for me. I remember that I studied for my school, the university entrance exam of my country (because my father wanted me to take it), and IELTS exam all in the same year. I remember the days when I woke up at 5:00 AM to study and was in different courses all day. The result, as you may guess, wasn’t acceptable for any of those exams because I actually fell between two stools on the ground. That year was full of disappointment for me. But soon after that, I started to study for the entrance exam of my current university. I got a perfect score and gained admission. Also, in the city that I grew up in, all the family members have a really close bond with each other. Not only family members, but also all the people that you have communication with are so warm with each other that it’s always really hard to become an independent person and start a life on your own somewhere else, without them. Trying to focus on my own path and becoming independent was a little hard and fearful for me at first. But when I accepted that I had to give up some of the things that were valuable for me in my mind, I got the results and saw it was really worth it!
What do you do to turn around a bad day? Well, sometimes playing piano or painting with a slow song can really heal my bad feelings and make me calm. But some days I can be in a mood that I don’t even want to do anything. On those days, I prefer to have my coffee and a dessert that I love, write my overall feelings, or just listen to music or go outside, have a walk, and maybe have a talk with one of my friends.
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LIVING YOUR STRENGTHS
BEING A LEADER BEGINS WITH BEING YOURSELF By Angela Davis Sullivan
H
ere was my first problem as a leader: I thought that being like my dental coach meant being just like my dental coach.
being an effective leader like my dental coach meant being an effective leader just like my dental coach. But what I needed to be was an effective leader just like me.
I’ve loved dentistry since I was young. I started chairside, then moved from clinical work into business administration. I was working as an insurance coordinator in my town when I met my dental coach, and my life changed forever.
My goal was always to be the best I could be, and I had to learn it was up to me to find what that was. I read constantly and listened to what other women in dentistry were doing. I took pieces of it all and began to find my way.
Working with her helped me discover that while I was capable at insurance work, it didn’t feed my soul. She recognized this dimension of me, too, and with her guidance, I combined my love of dentistry and my own particular administrative skills into a new role: patient coordinator and office manager. I grew as a leader in my practice and that wonderful growth experience led me to my next self-discovery: that I wanted to be a dental coach, too.
Here’s what I’ve learned in the process:
Mentor Yourself I’ve noticed that the most effective coaches are those who can see and respect the individual strengths of the people they work with. Are you respecting your own strengths?
I deeply admired my coach and often told her, “I want to be like you when I grow up!” Naturally, when I started coaching, I closely imitated her work, wanting to achieve the same excellence in helping others. And that’s when the trouble began. I’d gone into coaching because this kind of serviceoriented leadership felt like the culmination of a journey where I kept moving up to roles that felt better because they fit better, that were more “me”. And yet, here I was, pursuing the most “me” role yet, and I was tired, unsure, and uncomfortable. This wasn’t “me” at all! I searched my soul, and I realized my error: I thought that
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Begin by solidly grounding yourself in what makes you who you are. What are your passions? Your strengths? Your experiences? What sets your soul on fire? Make a list of what you are wonderful at, and the impact you want to make in the world. Guide yourself as you would guide a mentee who is new to the business and trying to find their best fit. Knowing who you are and where you’d like to go will define a trajectory that will be different from–but no less than– that of the other people around you, who are also striving to be better. And you will be a better guide as you start learning how to apply general principles of leadership in a specific way to your own unique self.
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LIVING YOUR STRENGTHS
Lean into Your Own Style of Leadership Excellence is not a one-size-fits-all mold. It’s wonderful–essential, even–to have great role models to look to for inspiration, but that inspiration should lead you to cultivate the strengths you already have. As a coach these last 16 years, I mentor my clients by helping them ask questions like, who’s out there already doing what I want to do, and what can I learn from them? How can I apply that success and those skills to me? It’s essential to discern where impact and process differ. Ask yourself these questions to find inspiration as you take on a leadership role. Look up to people, but remember where you stand. The places where you differ from your heroes could be the very strengths that set you apart and will make you the success you want to be. For instance, one client I coached wanted to have the same success her practice’s predecessor had. Her inspiration had amazing rapport with their team. My client wanted to be able to create the same rapport as a leader but was reserved and detail-oriented where her senior partner was talkative and affectionate. Our goal wasn’t to learn how to make my client more talkative and affectionate; it was to learn how to communicate affection and build rapport in her own distinctive, reserved, detail-oriented style. We built on her strengths to create the leadership impact she so admired. The most important part of applying inspiration is using a vision of a hero’s strengths to add to one’s own strengths–not to replace them. Your uniqueness is a strength.
Surround Yourself with Peer Support It’s common for women to struggle with embracing their own style of leadership; this can be complicated by the need for boundary-setting that many women will need to practice as they step into leading their medical and dental team. I’ve seen it in friends and fellow colleagues; I’ve helped clients with this. The common problem I see is that team interactions take place on the friend level, instead of on the professional level. It can be deeply uncomfortable for many women. It can also be uncomfortable to lead your dental team, especially as a woman. It’s uncomfortable to balance the boundaries required to be a leader–friendly, but not always a friend.
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I’ve surrounded myself with a group of amazing women in dentistry to learn from and encourage you to do the same. They are familiar with the challenges of learning leadership and balancing boundaries with managing the everyday details of dentistry. We’re able to connect and share our experiences. Seeing all their different leadership styles in practice can help us figure out our own! A group of women like this can also help because peer support can help satisfy that need for friendship, which can help many women shore up those boundaries in their practices that will help them more fully inhabit their roles as the leaders of their teams. Another wonderful benefit of being part of a group of great women is that they support and challenge you. Challenge without support isn’t great; support without growth isn’t either. Truly supportive friends are wonderful at seeing the gifts and reminding us of them when we’ve forgotten through fatigue or insecurity. Surround yourself with people who remind you of who you are, and why who you are is terrific. You don’t have to be someone else to succeed, and you don’t have to be alone, either.
Get Ready to Grow! When I was trying to imitate my way to success, I had a scattershot “change lots of things to be like my coach.” It was draining and frustrating, and I didn’t get very far. But my self-reflection centered me. Once I was solidly grounded in who I was–that I was
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fundamentally different from my coach, and in no way inferior–I was able to focus my aspirations on a trajectory that would use my strengths to take me to the level of excellence that I so admired in my coach. It was time to grow...and that’s when things got uncomfortable. And the thing to remember about growth is that it’s often uncomfortable.
Start with your strengths, add what sets your soul of fire, and forge your path
When you roll with the punches, imperfections and all, not only will you be better able to see and create more creative solutions to your own development, you will also set an amazing and transformative example for your team, one that tells them that what matters is not That feeling of being drained and frustrated helped tell their perfection, but their persistence. Your growth is me I was on the wrong path; the discomfort of growth leadership in action. You don’t need to be perfect to be helped me know I was on the right one. Growth is often perfectly suited to your role. uncomfortable. Be you. You are enough. Dentistry can be tough. We’re already juggling patientcentered care, team management, and continual training and education. Adding leadership skills to the mix About the author: can be an uncomfortable challenge. So, once you’re Angela is a dental practice business and development centered in what makes you uniquely qualified, and coach. Angela brings over 30 years of hands-on have your trajectory of growth in place, get ready to get experience, while helping doctors and teams reach their full uncomfortable! potential. Angela is also a speaker and educator for dental The courage to endure the discomfort of change is a practicable skill that’s essential to leadership. New roles, like leading a team, are often uncomfortable in the beginning; that doesn’t mean you’re failing. It only means you have a period of adjustment ahead. If you can keep going, adjusting along the way, and owning and learning from your mistakes, you’ll grow into a leadership role custom-fit to you! I found that the more times I got uncomfortable the more I grew. I got excited about the next “new” thing I was going to do.
practices. Her background as an administrator, expanded function dental assistant, new patient coordinator, office manager, and advanced training with dental management systems is invaluable with the day to day operations in a dental office, with the doctor, and with the team. Angela has a special passion and skill for bringing out the best in team members and developing outstanding office managers as well as helping dentists become better leaders. Angela is certified in Forte’, a communication styles program Completed Paul Homoly’s Speakers course Certified John Maxwell speaker, coach & trainer Author of “Coming Home to a Better Practice”
DeW DATES Mark your calendars:
Smiles at Sea The Dental Festival 2021 October 12-17, 2021 DeW Life Retreat 2021 November 11-13, 2021 Charlotte, NC Greater New York Nov. 26 - Dec. 1, 2021 New York, NY
Dental Avengers Mental Wellness Summit December 3-5 DentalAvengersSummit.com
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Dental Speaker Institute Jumpstart January 5-8, 2022 Phoenix, AZ Chicago Mid-Winter Feb 23 - Feb 26, 2022 Chicago, IL
Hinman Dental Conference March 17 - 19, 2022 Atlanta, GA
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who, wear, when
RESILIENCE
THE PANDEMIC: A STORY OF RESILIENCE By Allison Lacoursiere
I
n the last 18 months, the world's population united in ways that it had never before as the universe shifted beneath our feet. The global pandemic brought the whole world to a shuddering halt, uniting every soul with a collective fear, uncertainty, and change. All of us, for a mere moment, were going through the exact same thing at the same time. Without any warning, our entire world changed forever. Without any warning, we were forced to adapt, pivot, and change. Without any warning, we became more resilient. In the last 18 months, my whole world shifted. In April 2020, during the middle of a lockdown, I got laid off from my job of ten years. I decided to use this as an opportunity to build and scale Clear Coaching, my coaching and consulting business. During this time, I got familiar with one very key aspect that helped me launch a fast growing and successful business, overcome mental health challenges, leave an unhealthy relationship, adapt to massive changes, handle family separation, and cope with losing my job. The ability for me to overcome all of these things boiled down to one thing: resilience. The definition of resilience in Webster's dictionary is the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness. I want to share with you my version of resilience that the pandemic showed me and how it is very different from what we are taught; in fact, it’s almost the opposite. Fear is more contagious than any virus in this universe
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and the fear that the pandemic brought swept the globe faster than the virus itself. There were so many reasons to be afraid during this time. To choose optimism, the belief that everything was going to be okay, to stay positive and in a problem solving and solution based mindset took almost impossible courage and strength. The media, our family and friends, the stories and images of what was happening in the world was enough to make even the most optimistic person feel disheartened and negative. What I realized during this time was that we always–even in times of great uncertainty and pain–have the choice to believe that there will be a positive outcome and be optimistic about getting through. We have that choice during extreme times like these and we also have that choice every single day of our lives. We get to choose to believe in the best rather than the worst. Resilience is knowing that we are always in control and we can always choose to be optimistic. When we have things planned in the future we actually can experience the same joy and pleasure by thinking about these events and experiences ahead of time. We get to have joy with the knowing of an event or experience coming up. When the world locked down, experiences like this were stripped away, and people felt like they had no control and had no idea what would happen next. Uncertainty became the prominent emotion. Living in Bermuda with my family in Canada, I already don't get to see my family as much as I would like to and all of my plans to see them were made impossible with border closures and countries locking down. It was so hard not to be able to see my new niece after she was born during the pandemic and to officially click that button to cancel all of my trips to see them. The thing that helped me overcome
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RESILIENCE this was focusing on the future and the big picture. I got a present. Zooming in on the now and staying extremely present can be something that is tedious and unpleasant at first, but focusing on one moment at a time allows you to recognize that everything is okay in each moment. You slowly begin to realize that moment by moment we can get through anything. I had to take things day by day and remind myself that although we can run, we can dream, and we can plan, sometimes we need to slow down. We can have things go our way but sometimes we simply need to get through one moment at a time, one breath at a time, and allow ourselves to take it day by day. Resilience is knowing when it's okay to not know the plan and feeling comfort in the unknown. Resilience is staying present. We create identities in our lives by certain external factors that make us who we are. As my career of ten years was taken away from me, and my family and colleagues I had spent my entire adult life with were no longer a united team, my identity was challenged. I didn't feel like I was yet an entrepreneur or a business owner, and I was no longer an office manager, a leader of my team. I felt lost and I felt like the ground that I had been standing on for the last decade had turned to sand and I was watching it sift away. However, what came to the surface as I let the sand fall away was a new identity. I realized that behind the fear of not having my old identity was a new identity, one that was more aligned, powerful, and intentional. I had the opportunity to define who I was, decide what kind of change I wanted to create in the world, and build a company around my values, vision, and purpose. On the other side of my fear, I got to chisel out the real Allison that has been there, not yet fully expressed. I stepped into my greatness. Safety is always going to be what we are naturally drawn to because of our human nature, but when we allow the old to fall away and the new to come into view, more often than not it is a greater expression of our best self and who we really are. Remember the things that matter the most to you and create your life, and your business around that. It's okay to not know at first but when you finally connect to your truest self, your heart and your why, everything will fall into place. Resilience is allowing the old to fall away and the new to be defined brighter and better than ever before. Before the pandemic I was engaged to my best friend and we had started building our life together. We were fast paced, travelling a lot, and moving at the speed of light. During the pandemic we were forced to slow down, to face each other and ultimately ourselves. During that time our seemingly perfect relationship started to fall away and what remained was not what either of us signed up for. With all of the change, uncertainty, and turmoil, we were faced with stress and fear, and at the end of it
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all we realized this relationship was not meant for us. My old beliefs led me to believe that giving up was not an option and that giving up was never the right answer. But after months and months of working through pain and suffering, I learned that walking away from something that wasn’t meant for me and opening myself up to what is, was the real sign of resilience. Resilience is knowing when it’s okay to let go of something when it is not meant for you. Resilience is letting it break so you can rebuild better than before. Our society often tells us to rise, to push through and don't show weakness. As my business started to take off, I became very busy working on and in my business. I didn't have my usual habits to pull me away from my
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RESILIENCE computer and I found myself working 10-13 hour days, sitting, typing, meeting virtually, and feeling a constant pressure I put on myself of “ it's never going to be enough.” I started to notice my mood change. I started to notice I was becoming more emotional, it was harder to get out of bed, and I started to worry about myself. It felt like the colors of the world had disappeared, the sparkle I normally saw was dull, and everything looked gray. It felt like I had a wet blanket on my face, making it harder to breathe and left me feeling sluggish. I didn’t know where to go or what to do. I decided to ask for help. With the support of a coach and good friend, I realized that I was suffering from depression. Realizing this, I felt an immediate shame wash over me because on the outside I was showing a successful, happy, motivated coach but on the inside, I was struggling without anyone, or even myself, realizing it. It took me losing my light to realize that I needed help. As I went down the journey to address my mental health, I realized more than ever that sometimes the most resilient thing to do is not to “push through it” or “suck it up”, but it is to ask for help, to admit that you are not okay, to get support. Resilience is knowing it's okay not to be okay. Resilience is asking for help. The pandemic redefined resilience for me. Like many people, it challenged me in ways that I had never experienced and the gifts and strength I received from it are something I am so grateful for. I know my stories are not unique as the entire world lost people, their jobs and some their lives. As we are moving through this time, my advice to you is to let your identity be challenged and even break, stay true to yourself and redefine yourself as many times as you need, stay present, believe that everything will work out as it should, know you are always at choice, and ask for help when you need it. Resilience is not simply pushing through. Resilience is understanding yourself, loving yourself, knowing you are not alone, and knowing you have what you need inside of you to overcome anything.
About the author: Allison Lacoursiere helps dental professionals streamline efficiencies to increase both patient and practice satisfaction and health through her dental speaking and coaching programs. Learn how to develop a wider patient base, boost team engagement, optimize systems, and leverage Instagram to improve patient lives and the practice bottom line! Instagram: @yourclearalignercoach
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DeW Learning Crew Final Blowout Event!
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 20 Virtual doors open at 7 PM Happy hour at 8:30 PM
Special guest speakers to motivate and empower you! Only $29 (non-members $79) Learn more and register at dew.life/events
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SUCCESS
ACHIEVING SUCCESS BY EMBRACING THE WOMAN WITHIN By Jumoke Adedoyin, DDS, MICOI, MAAIP
W
hen we harness our unique feminine power to get where we want to in our personal and professional lives, we don't just open the doors to success, we create them. Never have there been so many opportunities for women to excel in dentistry. Women from a wide spectrum of backgrounds and circumstances continue to drive change and achieve success through their professional and personal endeavors. Over the past decade, the presence and impact of women in the industry has steadily increased. Today, more than one half of all dental school graduates are women. There have been four women ADA presidents as well as countless others in high-profile leadership positions and advisory roles. High-achieving female dental professionals are also starting their own clinics and are the force behind an unprecedented wave of entrepreneurship.
The MYTHS That Hold Us Back Women may have come a long way professionally, but we can still at times be the subject of judgmental statements and attitudes from friends, family, colleagues–male and female. These offhand sentiments are usually based on misconceptions of what a woman is and who she can (or should) become. How many of these same myths and misconceptions have we consciously or unconsciously embraced ourselves! We can be (and often are) our own biggest obstacle, limiting our unique potential because it may not fit certain accepted norms. To unleash our inner feminine power and live life on our own terms, we must agree to part with four big misconceptions:
But as we celebrate the achievements of women in this Myth #1: You can't build a thriving business without sacrificing traditionally male-dominated profession, I believe that a family time or your quality of life to do it. little introspection is in order. Even with all the success and accomplishment, many of us feel torn. We feel torn I am a busy dentist entrepreneur, and business and between our personal and professional lives, torn between lifestyle coach. But I am also a wife, a mother, a sister, who we are on the inside and who we project ourselves to and a friend. Dentists and other female medics really can be on the outside. This discord is taking a toll on our well- grow their businesses, enjoy their families, and care for being and our ability to positively impact the world around themselves all at the same time. us. Getting to such a point is not about having superhuman As women, we hold a unique power inside of ourselves. abilities. It is, however, about understanding your This is the power of our own femininity combined with strengths and life path, re-establishing your priorities, our GOD given talents and abilities. When we can align and keeping yourself accountable to yourself and your this power with our personal and professional goals, free potential. Plus, many women have successfully gone from fear and self-judgment, we can reach places we never through the journey, combining a career with a rewarding thought were possible. personal life. It can be done!
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SUCCESS Myth #3: You will always be stuck running a small business. Many high-achieving women who choose to start their own business may unknowingly be holding on to the belief that they will never be able to take their company to the next level. They thus treat their venture as little more than a side hustle. This limiting belief prevents them from having the growth mindset they need to thrive and setting financial goals that accurately reflect the value their business is providing. It does not have to be this way. We can dream big and reach the stars. We can choose to achieve virtually anything we want in life or go anywhere by using our resources to create opportunities for success.
Myth #4: You need to act like a man to succeed. Women have been conditioned for years to believe that they are at a disadvantage in the workplace simply because they were born female. To be successful, they need to throw their femininity into a closet and behave like a man. Nothing could be further from the truth. For instance, as wives, mothers, and homemakers, we need certain qualities and skills to keep our homes running smoothly. We need to be adept at multitasking and making decisions, be on top of our finances, and be prepared to brave any storm that comes our way. Our abilities as women and as mothers are exactly what we need to build successful businesses that thrive.
Myth #2: You must wait for the right time to live life on your terms. As highly successful women, we can fall into the trap of believing that the life of our dreams will start...once we graduate...once we have older children...once we start our own practice...once we reach a certain amount of revenue. Then, we limit ourselves on the other side. We are already too old...we already have too many family commitments... we already have too many professional obligations.
Letting Our Femininity Shine Through We can achieve success not in spite of our femininity, but because of it. Our feminine qualities make each of us who we are. They are GOD's gifts to us to help us fulfill our unique purpose in the world as women. When we embrace our femininity, when we embrace ourselves, we open ourselves up to new possibilities and experiences because we respect ourselves enough to receive them. We search for others from whom we can learn and build a support network around us that can lift us up and help us succeed during the difficult times. The result is that we are more fully present in all areas of our lives–in our families, in our social circles, and in our careers.
However, at any moment and under practically any circumstances, we have the power to live our lives on our own terms. The reality is that women who go on to start their own businesses can come from a range of backgrounds and circumstances. They launch their businesses at different stages in their lives–some as young adults, others not until they are nearing the age of retirement. What sets them apart is that they have a vision, and they make a commitment to go for it. Dentistry is a profession based on caring. It is really a good career choice for any person who wants to help others. In
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SUCCESS fact, many of us entered this profession because we feel we can make a difference–especially for patients who have special needs or who are nervous about getting work done on their teeth. As women, we operate differently than our male coworkers. We inherently have a more nurturing and caring nature. We can more easily express empathy and have compassion for our patients and colleagues. We can also build up those around us, mentor with our whole hearts, and promote self-esteem. The worst thing we can do to ourselves and those we are meant to help, is to let another person's distorted perception of who we are become our inner reality. In the end, life comes down to the choices we make. As long as we are in touch with our authentic selves, believe in ourselves, surround ourselves with people who believe in us and motivate us to do and be our best, then nothing can stop us. Embracing our femininity is embracing who we are at the core. It will give us the power and the courage to take charge of our lives, love ourselves as we are, make the decisions that bring us closer to our GOD given purpose.
About the author: Dr. Jumoke Adedoyin was born in Nigeria. She attended Howard University College of Dentistry, graduating #1 in the class of 2001. She maintains a very successful practice that is exclusively dedicated to Implant Dentistry in Cartersville, Georgia and was recently appointed the Director for Clinical Relations for Affordable Care Incorporated, a Dental Service Organization serving 700+ dentists with 382 locations. Dr. Adedoyin now spends most of her time supporting dentists as they navigate through their career journey. Dr. Adedoyin is a faculty member at Implant Pathway in Phoenix Arizona, a continuing education continuum focused on
increasing the competency of the general dentist in the implantology space. She has earned both Fellowships and Masterships in the International Congress of Oral Implantologists (ICOI) and the American Academy of Implant Prosthodontists (AAIP). In addition to dentistry, she enjoys her work as a life coach and mentor to fellow female dentists. She currently resides in the Atlanta area with her husband and 3 sons. You can connect with her using social media handle @DrJumoke.
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DeW Learning Crew FALL
Strengths Savvy comes to the Learning Crew!
The Four Domains of Strength, and How Opposites Attract…
Are you an Executor? Do you Build Relationships? Are you a Thinker? Or an Influencer? A Domain is one of the categories of Strengths, and knowing your dominant Domain can be an incredibly powerful thing. Where should you direct your talents? Conversely, what are your watchouts? Join in the fun to discover how knowing your Domains can bring power to your life. We will also explore some of the Strengths which are seemingly opposite to one another, and how to navigate this sometimes rocky road when you find yourself in a relationship where you are journeying with an opposite Strength! Knowing and understanding Strengths is life changing!
Wednesday, October 20th 7-8:30 p.m. Keynote Speakers: Valerie Menzel and Leanne Burnett "Empowering A Workforce Through Support and Purpose" space is limited so Don't miss your chance! To register or for more info go to dew.life
SUCCESS
UNLOCKING THE POWER OF NETWORKING By Isabel Rambob, DDS
D
o you dread the thought of networking? Do you struggle with building a network?
Do you think networking is not for you? Do you resist networking? Or are you one of those women who cannot wait for the next networking event/opportunity?
As a very shy child growing up in Brazil, I was fascinated by the ability my mother had and still has to go everywhere and make friends. I vividly remember, when people used to go to the bank, my mother taking me to the bank with her. Everyone knew her in that branch–from the security guard to the manager. It was mesmerizing watching her networking like a pro and captivating people with her authentic, caring, positive, and generous nature. My mother’s influence encouraged me to make a decision that has changed my life forever. I would no longer be a shy person. Actually, what I had decided back then, when I was thirteen years old, was that I would not let people know I was shy, so I forced myself to talk and interact with everyone around me. I could not tolerate being silent. Now I know that listening and asking the right questions can be more powerful than speaking, and unknowingly, I started my networking journey.
Effective networking is a powerful tool to fulfill your dreams Fast-forward a decade or so later, I found myself living in Maryland. I had to reinvent myself personally and professionally. I had to learn to navigate a whole new system, adapt to new cultural norms, speak a new language, make new friends and find my place in this new universe. My networking skills have certainly served me very well. They have helped me to find jobs, get accepted in a residency program, find a mentor, serve in over 50 committees, get patients/clients, participate in
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collaborative projects, be invited to speak at conferences, meet incredible people, and be a connector (as I am writing this article, I took a short break to send an introductory email to connect two women in my network).
The value of relationships is at the heart of networking Networking starts with taking a genuine interest in people and establishing a mutually beneficial relationship. It is about asserting yourself as a trusted source of valuable information and being intentional about giving before receiving. Approach networking with the intent of bringing value to the other person and committing to nurture the relationship. People will appreciate their relationship with you when it is clear to them that you are willing to invest time and energy to get to know them. You must persuasively convey the benefit of being associated with you. Having the right network can scale your business, create new career opportunities, and expand your reach and circle of influence.
Effective networking means building strong relationships
HOW CAN YOU UNLOCK THE POWER OF NETWORKING? One of the most common challenges I hear from women I coach is that they do not enjoy networking because of the fear of rejection, the feeling of bothering people, and the concern of coming across as an unauthentic person. When I help them to change their mindset regarding networking, the magic happens. They become more confident in approaching strangers and appreciate the opportunity of meeting new people and the endless possibilities that come with embracing this process. So
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SUCCESS how can you unlock the power of networking? Get on the Right Mindset At this point, I believe we are in agreement that networking is a necessity. There is no way out for a woman who is serious about making it big in this fast-paced, highly connected, ever-changing world. So, you must get in the game with the right mindset to make the best out of your networking experiences. Boost your confidence by making an inventory of the main benefits you can bring to this new connection. Focus on your accomplishments, skills, and talents to put yourself in the realm of positivity. Be attentive to your professional image and have a clear idea of the message you are aiming to covey. And don’t forget to turn off negative self-talk. Enjoy the Process Networking is not optional, therefore, after getting yourself into the right mindset, enjoy the process of connecting with people. Obviously, as everything else in life, no human activity has a one hundred percent no disappointment guarantee seal. Expect to fail, be prepared for rejection, anticipate setbacks, but at the end of the day focus on the lessons learned and ask yourself how you can do better next time. Sometimes, even though you may have done everything right, people may not be willing to connect. Regardless, enjoy the process and stop worrying about the outcome. There will always be other opportunities waiting for you. Have a Specific Goal in Mind People will engage in networking for so many different reasons and having a specific goal in mind will help you develop the right networking strategy. Are you networking to get more clients for your business, get more patients for your practice, increase your skills, knowledge, and abilities or build a referral network? No matter what your specific goal is, the bottom line is that your ultimate goal is to cultivate strong relationships and build robust networks.
you are different. Once your pitch is done, engage the other person with a question that will be beneficial for her and let her know how to contact you to learn more about you, your company/practice, and your services/products. Connect Online In the digital era you cannot ignore one of the best ways to make connections–online networking. Unlike traditional networking, online networking greatly involves using digital tools to build relationships and you need to master those tools to effectively increase your network. Social media is essential for online networking, however, you need to be intentional about which platform you use to achieve your specific goals. Also, you can attend virtual networking events. No matter which digital tool you use, you must become comfortable in the digital world and strengthen your digital presence to remain professionally current and relevant. Nurture the Relationship It is not about simply contacting people. You must nurture mutually beneficial relationships within your network. It takes time, interest, effort, and commitment to build and maintain a robust network. Some ways of nurturing your network are: map your existing network, use social media to stay in touch, be helpful, get their opinion, make introductions, and share valuable information. Nurturing your network is an incredible asset you can have. Networking is about establishing and nurturing longterm, mutually beneficial relationships with the people you meet. It can help you improve your communication skills, meet prospective patients/clients, stay updated on the latest trends in your field, and gain access to the necessary resources that will foster your professional success. Enjoy the process and clearly demonstrate how you can bring value to people. You have so much to offer to the world!
About the author: Dr. Isabel Rambob is the founder of Rambob Training services, LLC, a company that provides people skills training and coaching for dentists and dental teams. She is also a dentist, professor, certified digital marketing professional, certified mediator, and prolific speaker who has lectured in the USA, Europe, Asia, and South America. A fervent knowledge seeker and connector extraordinaire, Dr. Rambob believes in the power of connecting people and ideas to create endless possibilities. Dr. Rambob is very enthusiastic about trying new things and will not hesitate to embark on new adventures whether it is traveling, learning Have an Impressive Elevator Pitch something new, or exploring different cuisines. She is always on An elevator pitch is a quick synopsis that offers people the go, but also mindful of the need of slowing down, recharging, a reason why they should connect with you. Create an and reassessing the priorities in her life. elevator pitch that introduces you in a very compelling Email: dr.rambob@rambobtraining.com way. It should be brief (30 seconds), positive, persuasive, Website: www.rambobtraining.com and relevant. It should include who you are, what you do LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook| or offer, why it matters, what problem you solve, and how Twitter: @rambobtraining
Develop a Networking Strategy Create an effective networking strategy by pinpointing why you want to network, identifying the people you need to network with, focusing on relationship building, drafting your elevator pitch, reviewing your networking plan, recognizing that networking is an investment, expressing gratitude towards your new connections, and continuing to reconnect with people in your network.
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SUCCESS
THIS WILL SUPERCHARGE YOUR IMPACT IN DENTISTRY IT DID MINE!
W
hat does making an impact in dentistry look like to you? Who do you want to influence the most? How can you make a difference in the work that
you do?
These are tough questions to ponder, but I know if you are reading this, you want to leave your mark. The truth is, you’re leaving your footprint whether you want to or not. The challenge is how much of a positive impact can you make? Let’s dial this back and look at the definition of what making an impact means. According to the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary, making an impact means to have a strong effect on someone or something.1
By Julie Friesen
“The only limit to your impact is your imagination and your commitment.” Tony Robbins My impact became intentional when I wrote down what I ultimately wanted to achieve in my work. This wasn’t as easy as I thought it was going to be! It took research and countless attempts to clearly define an inspirational picture of my ambitions, hopes, and dreams for my career. When it finally came together, I had direction and purpose. “Empowering world-class dental leaders and teams to make a significant difference in their practice and in the lives of others.” Julie Friesen Dental Coaching and Consulting
I established values to guide me on how I want to “show up” for my clients, dive into my work, make smart Most of us want to make a difference in our career and in decisions and grow both personally and professionally. the lives of our clients and colleagues. However, in reality This is my purpose. To me it’s exciting, compelling, and we go about our daily routines and interactions largely vivid! It inspires me to get out of bed in the morning and unaware of the impact we make. energizes me to pull an all-nighter to finish a project. Imagine if you were intentional in your actions.
There is something so powerful in defining who you are, what you stand for, and how you are different. You own Think of the positive lasting impression you could make why you do what you do and how you do it. Yes, this is by being deliberate and consistent in your actions. the whole vision, mission, core values thing! However, it Imagine the difference you could pass on to the next doesn’t stop there. generation in dentistry by sharing your knowledge and experiences with purpose. The secret to supercharging your impact? To be intentional everyday with your purpose. It requires a daily You have the ability to make a positive difference. You habit of focus and taking action. You must reflect and were born to make an impact! commit to your purpose for your work each day. This is your impact game changer!
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SUCCESS
“When you live each day with intentionality, there's almost no limit to what you can do.” John C. Maxwell Let’s be honest, no one can maintain “being on” all the time. Even with a deliberate daily routine, chances are that, from time to time, we will lose focus and drift into emotional reactions. Having a busy schedule and a growing business, many times my mind can be fixated on work. An unexpected interruption can get an instinctive reaction that sometimes doesn’t align with who I want to be. Sound familiar? Knee jerk reactions come from a state of mind of what we are feeling at the time and are acted upon without much thought. In these moments, we don’t consider the impact our words and actions have. Spontaneous reactions often produce negative results affecting our relationships, business, and lives. So, how do we reset our focus?
On the days I need extra motivation, I move the frame closer, right beside my computer and instantly I feel energized. It helps to shake off tension, get grounded, and be who I want to be. I feel centered, in control, and able to focus on the needs of others. It just goes to show how small things can have a big impact! Reacting is intelligence!
emotional.
Responding
is
emotional
As a dental coach, I support dentists and teams when they’re facing overwhelming challenges. When a practice feels like it’s in chaos and emotions are running high, it’s essential that I respond not react to the environment. I think of it as “keeping my head above the water.” If I’m pulled under by the current of their situation, I can’t help them–and helping teams is my mission! In an intentional state, we are conscious of our words and actions, responding with awareness, respect, and heart. Can you think of someone who has supported your career in dentistry? Someone you trust, respect and enjoy being around? A person you look up to and aim to be more like.
One way is through imagery. My vision statement is framed on my desk as a daily reminder of my purpose and goals.
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Someone who is a positive influence for me might not be the right fit for you. However, some traits universally make a good impression no matter what. Most of us lean towards someone who is respectful, confident, optimistic,
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SUCCESS a good listener, a team player, and someone who keeps their promises. Can you relate to any of these?
Decide today to leave your footprint in dentistry. Get clear with your path and commit to intentionally going after your purpose every day. Become the leader you’re looking for so you can guide and inspire others into action.
The fact is, we take on the traits of people we spend time with. The favorable influence of others helps mold and shape us. Their fresh perspective makes our world bigger and their confidence in us helps move us forward. We make our mark by what we give back!
“Choose to make the future not just a place you’re going but a better place you’ve helped create.”
The common thread of supercharged impact is our consistencies with people. Our consistency with others builds trust, trust builds loyalty, and loyalty is the heartbeat of everlasting relationships.
1
Love, Julie References: “Impact”. Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary of Current English / [by] A.S. Hornby; Editor Jonathan Crowther. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press, 1995.
Global. Regional and national incidence, prevalence and years lived with disability for 354 diseases and injuries for 195 countries and territories, 1990–2017: A systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. Lancet 2018; 392: 1789–8583. 2
This is impact! Our work can be anywhere from training a new team to writing a blog post. It is what you pass on to the next generation and to your peers. It is having achieved something that lives on and reflects your purpose. Recently, I received a card from a dental team. Inside were wonderful words of gratitude, encouragement, and love. One comment in particular touched my heart so deeply it brought tears to my eyes. She wrote, “Thank you for everything you’ve done! Thank you for your guidance, and inspiration…but mostly, thank you for believing in me, and more importantly making me believe in myself. You are truly one of a kind. All the best to you!” Michelle, Treatment Coordinator Knowingly or unknowingly, we leave an impression wherever we go. Sometimes we receive encouraging words to know we are on the right path, sometimes we don’t. We have to trust in ourselves and be true to our vision statement to know for sure we’re pursuing our purpose. There are three types of people in this world; people who watch things happen, people who wonder what happened, and people who make things happen. All progress big or small starts with you–you are not meant to be average!
About the author: Julie Friesen is the “go to coach” for engaging, aligning and equipping dentists and their teams to get from where they are to where they want to be! With 27 years of extensive experience in the dental industry as a Certified Dental Assistant, Treatment Coordinator and Practice Manager, along with a strong intuition for business strategies, she has successfully facilitated dental practices in achieving and exceeding their desired goals. Julie excels at communication and working together with teams to create and implement easy, effective systems and training solutions. Earning a top rated track record of helping practices generate high returns in revenue, she has coached and mentored teams at various levels within Canada, assisting to increase confidence, job performance, and leadership. From behind the mask to the front line of a dental practice, Julie uses proven methods of success along with her knowledge and enthusiasm to get more YESES and SUCCESSES from teams, their patients and in their practices. Email: julie@jfdentalconsulting.com Website: www.jfdentalconsulting.com
This is a defining time in dentistry to help our world get healthier. It’s estimated that oral diseases affect nearly 3.5 billion people worldwide.2 Together as the dental industry we must step forward into the front lines and bridge the gap between dental health and overall physical health. It’s time for dental teams to confidently take a direct seat in educating and helping people to optimal wellness and living longer.
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SUCCESS
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3rd Annual
DeW Life Retreat November 11-13, 2021 • Charlotte, NC Join us for this DeW Member Exclusive Event. Don't wait. Spaces are limited!
Don’t Miss Our Pre-Conference: Business Acceleration Workshop with
Anita Sirianni, RDH
November 10th Double Your Sales: Take the Confusion Out of Building Your Business
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SUCCESS
CRUSHING CANDY: PANDEMIC MENTAL HEALTH STRATEGIES AND BEYOND!
C
rushing what? Candy? Isn’t that an app game that has taken over the world?! YES! And thank goodness for Candy Crush. Fellow DeWs, this was my ‘go to’ during the pandemic for mental relief and relaxation. It got me thinking…hmmm…what are we ‘doing’ to manage this pandemic? For once everyone in the world is experiencing what I have my entire life: no clue what will happen today, fear of the unknown and the lack of control. Thus, Candy Crush! I could take back some control and with skill (and luck too), I could see things moving forward, and I could identify patterns which resulted in successes and rewards. As I look back at past issues of the DeW Life Magazine, there is a central theme, a pattern and it comes down to mental well-being. Until recently I thought my family was ‘unique’; that I was ‘unique’; when in fact my family, my experiences were more the ‘norm’. The pandemic, if nothing else, has changed our lives forever and, in particular, our mental well-being. Being a selfproclaimed ‘Pollyanna’, I am looking for solutions. Can we manage what experts agree is a looming mental health pandemic? YES we can! Dentistry is positioned to destigmatize mental illness and more importantly, act as a first responder for those suffering from mental illnesses, and of equal importance, those who care for them. The pandemic spurred me forward to bring this topic front and center and I’d like to share some thoughts for the caretakers, they are at risk. The ripple effect of mental illnesses beyond those who live with these conditions is profound. On average it takes an individual living with mental illness 11 years to
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By Kristy Menage Bernie, RDH, MS, RYT
seek care. So…where does this place those of us who care for those people? Firmly in the chairside therapist role? Are there resources? Are we alone? Should we attempt to reinvent the wheel for mental wellness?
ARE YOU THE FAMILY THERAPIST? Let’s take a look at a feature from the AARP, a group who firmly acknowledges the issues we are facing regarding mental well-being. I’ve added my own life experiences to clarify the points and provide insight into how often caregivers become the chairside therapist! Here’s the list of amateur psychology mistakes…let’s crush some candy! Mistake #1: Talking too much In my case, I’d ask too many questions, I’d provide rationale as to why what was being said or felt was not based in reality. Instead of listening I would talk, talk, and talk. Or even worse, I’d disagree and try to prove them wrong. Who wants to hear all of that? When we are in crisis the last thing we need is someone going on and on about what they would have done or that what they are feeling is not ‘real’. Instead: Listen more than you speak. Experts agree, the best strategy (and yes, strategy is important here) is to simply listen, let the person in crisis talk. Acknowledge what you’ve heard and if in person, provide that critical touch! Repeat what’s been
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SUCCESS said and get ready for the ‘permission’ to speak, to offer comfort or advice. Most importantly restate how difficult this must be and that you’ve heard them loud and clear. Acknowledge the pain and perhaps a window of opportunity will open for you to offer more of your own personal experiences. Mistake #2: Launching into ‘fix’ mode
Instead: Give space for contemplation. This says it all, giving space, acknowledging the situation and avoiding the temptation to fix it or fill the silence with less than helpful dialogue. “I hear you” goes a long way in allowing for contemplation. I have found empathy key to providing support. Fill the silence with their own words instead! Mistake #5: Judging their reality
Oh boy…ever the ‘fix it’ Queen! This one is difficult, we care about that person, and we want to help. However, this becomes another mark against what they are feeling. Feelings are…feelings! See Mistake #1! They are related. Let’s avoid “Don’t feel that way, tomorrow’s another day!” This is not helpful and only makes that person feel they are, well, losing their mind!
This is probably my biggest error–proving them wrong leads to judgement and a total lack of empathy. It’s the most difficult and negates what the individual is experiencing. What I strive for now is to replace confusion with compassion!
Instead: Ask permission to work together.
Instead: Accept them where they are.
First and foremost, those in crisis probably know what they ‘should’ be doing. Offering solutions they’ve already thought about but just can’t do only reinforces their crisis. Instead ask “What does this look like for you?” “What do you want to do or see?” and “How can I help?” Once given permission to brainstorm then communication has become a 2-way street. We move to a collaborative mode, working together, vs. being the one to ‘fix it’.
While challenging, validating their reality, even if it’s not mine, has helped tremendously. This can be tricky especially when someone is in total crisis which leads me to our final ‘bonus’ mistake, one of my own that I know is a common one…
Mistake #3: Talking over the phone In light of the pandemic, we took exception with this tip. Not to mention many a caring family member are miles away. Talking on the phone is the main way I am able to support my family and yet this does not allow me to see what’s going on, a critical aspect in helping anyone in crisis.
BONUS Mistake #6: Keeping silent For those of us who are involved with individuals experiencing mental health issues, we may lean towards keeping silent. We are unique, right? No one else is going through anything close! The reality is quite different and for me it took most of my 59-year life to acknowledge the mental health issues and related realities that have been a part of my family for as long as I can remember. As a child of the 1960’s mental health was not talked about nor acknowledged even in extreme situations. Bottom line… we are not alone!
Instead: Get together or at least talk on a video call. As I did, many of us followed suit. We traveled during the pandemic to support those in crisis. For me I committed to being on the east coast 2-3 weeks at a time. Acknowledging experts’ advice, it takes more than a few days for those in crisis to feel SUPPORTED! As travel restrictions have eased, being in person with those in crisis is getting easier…and of course, we do have the technology otherwise! Mistake #4: Trying to fill silence My need to show and demonstrate support created the perfect storm in this error. See Mistake #1! When we listen, it’s not only okay to not respond, it's more than likely what is needed. Wait until asked, otherwise…we may respond too quickly with information that is less than helpful.
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Instead: Reach out, seek help, and find comfort from those in the same situation! I wish as a child or even teenager I had reached out for help…and let’s face it, as an adult I still would not acknowledge my reality until a few years ago. This avoidance, shame, and guilt sets up a cavalcade of experiences and situations that not only harm but impact everyone directly and indirectly. Instead, today I’d like to suggest we intervene when we see those struggling… not only those in emotional crisis but those who care for them.
CRUSHING MORE CANDY! Candy Crush? OK, full disclosure: I am on level 9,680! I can ‘see’ the end of the game (I am keeping those programmers in business!) I’ve no doubt needed the
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SUCCESS ‘break’, however, as stated at the beginning of this feature, it got me thinking. Can dentistry make a difference? Are there strategies and resources available that can make the difference? A resounding YES!
“Family” Therapists’ Mistakes (Adapted from AARP)
Organized dentistry has responded and taken notice of the mental health issues we are facing. The American Dental Association has developed resources readily available at: https://success.ada.org/en/wellness. Of particular interest is their posting of “The Ultimate Workplace Mental Health Toolkit” authored by the National Alliance on Mental Illness Chicago. This guide walks practices through a series of evaluations to determine the practice’s mental health knowledge, awareness, and readiness. And…we are now seeing more continuing education courses being offered on this topic. Not to mention our own DeW members who have led the way in mental well-being!
1.
Talking too much; instead listen more than you speak.
2.
Launching into “fix it” mode; instead ask permission to work together.
3.
Talking over the phone; instead get together.
4.
Trying to fill a silence; instead give space for contemplation.
5.
Judging their reality; instead accept them where they are.
Whether we are individuals who thrive, live, or manage life with mental issues, or a family member/friend who cares for those in crisis, we are unique…in that we can make THE difference for mental well-being! Join us…let’s crush the mental health stigma…let’s crush some candy!
6.
Keeping silent; instead ask for help and support!
About the author:
YOUR PARTNER TO PROSPER Propel your practice with Patterson. Supporting your success is central to our purpose. We provide the products, technologies and services you need to modernize, grow and keep your practice running smoothly. Whether you’re exploring a purchase, implementing a new technology or optimizing it for improvement, our experts will offer you unmatched support.
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Kristy Menage Bernie, RDH, MS, RYT has been a continuing education facilitator and adult learning strategist for over 30 years. She is one of the first dental hygienists to start a national dental industry consulting company, Educational Designs, Inc. that utilized dental hygiene talent. Kristy’s personal journey with mental health has led to her mission of destigmatizing mental health issues by empowering the profession to take an active role in mental well-being. This resulted in her latest seminar titled ‘Crushing Candy: Pandemic Mental Health Strategies and Beyond!’ which is now available in person to interested groups. Email info@EducationalDesign.com for scheduling information! Full bio and CV available at www.EducationalDesigns.com Dental Avengers Mental Wellness Summit Virtual Event– December 3-5,2021 DentalAvengersSummit.com
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REFLECTION
PUT DOWN THAT SCALER AND TAKE A HIKE By Cindy Rogers, RDH
D
ental professionals, especially Dental Entrepreneur Women, are so passionate about their careers that they often overindulge themselves with information. They can become so over charged with information that they forget to save space in their lives. The space needed to fulfil their dreams. Growing up in the city, and with both of my parents being entrepreneurs, we lived a busy lifestyle. My sisters and I helped out in the family businesses after school on weekends and during summer breaks. We loved it and we loved keeping busy. We also loved spending time at our property in the country outside of the city. During the daytime we would go fishing down at the river and hiking through the forest. At nighttime we would build a fire, roast marshmallows, and gaze at the moon and stars above. If we were lucky, there would be a terrifying lightning storm that we would seek shelter from by hiding in our large, shared tent. Here in nature is where our father taught us how to overcome our fears. Here is where we were taught to let go of the input that no longer served us. Here is where we learned to make space for the important things in life. Here is where we learned to dream. And now that I am an adult, and an entrepreneur myself, I continue to dream big. And I continue to head to the great outdoors when I need to make space.
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“Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt” - John Muir
If you are feeling overwhelmed and burned out, spending some time out in nature may help. By taking a hike, cutting the phone cord, and getting some rest you may just find the space you have been looking for.
Take a hike Set the clutter in your mind free by lacing up your boots and taking a hike. You do not need to prove yourself by hiking the entire distance of the Pacific Crest Trail. Start smaller by picking a shorter, flatter trail. With each step, pay attention to the sounds all around you. The sounds you have been drowning out with inside noise. As you put one foot down in front of the other, listen to the sound of the branches crackling under your feet, the birds chirping up in the trees, and the river water hitting the banks of the shore. With each breath you take, feel the fresh outside air entering and leaving your lungs. Your mind will begin
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REFLECTION
to feel free as it releases the thoughts of yesterday. The thoughts that no longer serve you. The thoughts that have been taking up space in your mind. The space you need for your dreams.
Cut the phone cord Break out of your cell. On average, people check their cell phones every 10 minutes. Sure, you can turn on the do not disturb feature, but the temptation will still be there. When you are far enough away from the inside world, your electronics are no longer invited. There is no cellular service. There is no internet service. That’s right, no temptation to spend your time checking your phone or browsing online. What you will notice is how much time you have been spending on your phone, or online, with nothing accomplished. You do not always need internet and cell service to be productive. The time you would normally overspend on this habit can now be spent on making space for your dreams.
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Get some rest Give your mind and body the rest that it has been begging you for. Contrary to what hustling dental entrepreneurs tell themselves, resting is not a waste of time. The proper amount of rest helps us to be more mindful, alert, and ready for action. When you head to the great outdoors, take a lawn chair or a hammock with you. Find your perfect spot to set it up and then kick your feet up, close your eyes, and feel the hustle of the indoors leave your body. Making space for your dreams.
About the author: Cindy Rogers is a Compliance Consultant with Healthcare Compliance Associates, a practicing hygienist and co-host of the Dental Alements Podcast. Outside of healthcare, she spends her time enjoying the outdoors: hiking, kayaking, and writing. This article was written along the banks of the Clark Fork River in Thompson Falls, MT. Cindy may be reached at the following locations: https://linktr.ee/cindyrogersrdh
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“Yes, my own
TOOTHBRUSH! I don’t have to share with my mom anymore!” Every child should have what they need to prevent tooth decay. Unfortunately, many low-income homes lack basic dental hygiene products. When kids can’t brush every day, the pain of tooth decay can keep them from eating, sleeping, and attending school. Their poor oral hygiene habits contribute to the vicious cycle of poverty.
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See you November 11th-13th!