Talking isn’t enough—you need to connect to be heard.

In this episode of Beyond the Operatory, host John Stamper is joined again by industry veteran Betsy Mitchell to discuss the invisible glue that holds a dental practice together: Emotional Intelligence (EQ).

We dive deep into why "tone and tenor" matter more than the words you use, how to give difficult feedback without triggering defensiveness, and why the "space between" words is often where the real message lies.

In this episode, we cover:

• 00:02:12 Beyond Words: Why tone, body language, and silence make up the bulk of your message.
• 00:07:22 The "Computer Screen" Problem: How simple habits (like lack of eye contact) are destroying patient connection.
• 00:08:51 Defining Emotional Intelligence: How to "read the room" and observe how your mood affects the team.
• 00:12:28 The "Bookending" Strategy: A specific framework for giving constructive feedback without causing a meltdown.
• 00:18:37 Psychological Safety: Creating a culture where team members feel safe to ask questions and challenge ideas.

About the Guest: Betsy Mitchell has over 25 years of experience in the dental industry, specializing in leadership development, team dynamics, and practice management strategies. Notably, she served as the Vice President of Organizational Development for the Green Bay Packers, allowing her to bring elite sports management strategies to the world of dentistry.

Public Health, DSO, Startup, or Private Practice? It’s a real-life “choose your own adventure” story—let us help you make the right choice.

In this episode of Beyond the Operatory, host John Stamper sits down with Ken Mathys, a veteran dental business consultant with over 30 years of experience. They break down the paralysis of choice facing new dentists today and provide a "look under the hood" at the business implications of every major career path.

Whether you are a dental student, a new associate, or a seasoned professional looking to make a pivot, this episode gives you the unbiased pros and cons of each path to help set you up for success.

In this episode, we cover:

• 00:02:53 From Accountant to Consultant: Ken’s unique journey into the business side of dentistry.
• 00:11:05 The Business Engine: Why understanding P&L and cash flow is critical to clinical freedom.
• 00:12:40 Public Health: The reality of high volume ("reps") and loan forgiveness vs. limited clinical breadth.
• 00:15:24 Private Practice Associateships: Why finding a mentor to "pace" your development is often worth more than the highest starting salary.
• 00:19:25 The Startup: The risks and rewards of "pure entrepreneurship" and building a fee-for-service model from scratch.
• 00:22:23 The DSO Route: Understanding the trade-off between financial security and corporate formularies.
• 00:25:57 Buying a Practice: The "Honor the Past" strategy for taking over a retiring dentist's team.

About the Guest: Ken Mathys is the founder of Dental Practice Advisors and has spent over three decades helping dentists master the business systems behind their clinical work.

Successful dentistry requires more than clinical skill. Are you ready to lead your winning team?

Welcome to the premiere episode of Beyond the Operatory, the podcast brought to you by Dental City that cuts through the noise of modern dentistry. In this debut, host John Stamper sits down with Betsy Mitchell, an industry veteran with over 25 years of experience in leadership development, to discuss the critical shift from "boss" to "leader" to remain competitive in today’s dental landscape.

As the industry evolves, sustainable growth for your practice requires more than just a skilled dentist—it requires a high-performance team with a culture driven to succeed. Drawing on her unique experience as the former VP of Organizational Development for the Green Bay Packers, Betsy shares insights on navigating this shift, utilizing powerful parallels between the NFL and dental practice operations, where every player must know their role to win the “championship” of patient satisfaction.

In this episode, we cover:

• 00:07:18 The Evolution of Leadership: Moving beyond the dentist-centric model to engage the entire staff in solutions.
• 00:12:23 The Championship Mindset: Why every team member—from reception to hygiene—must understand their specific role to win.
• 00:15:48 Building Trust: How to foster a culture where team members feel safe to share ideas and be vulnerable.
• 00:38:48 Mastering Conflict: Why conflict shouldn't be buried and how healthy disagreement leads to better business strategies.
• 00:48:45 The Power of the Hygienist: Recognizing the hygienist as the most powerful position for building patient trust and retention.

About the Guest: Betsy Mitchell has over 25 years of experience in the dental industry, specializing in leadership development, team dynamics, and practice management strategies. Notably, she served as the Vice President of Organizational Development for the Green Bay Packers, allowing her to bring elite sports management strategies to the world of dentistry.

"You've known Dental City as the 'glove company' for 30 years. Allow us to introduce a new side of ourselves."

Welcome to the prologue of Beyond the Operatory, a podcast to cut through the noise of modern dentistry. In this special introductory episode, host John Stamper sits down with Jordan Lorenz, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, from Dental City to discuss the vision behind this new podcast series.

For over three decades, Dental City has been a trusted supply distributor for thousands of dental practices. But as the dental industry evolves, the Dental City team realized they had more to offer than just products. They could share valuable business insights to help dental practices grow and succeed.

Jordan explains why Dental City is pulling back the curtain to share the leadership strategies, business frameworks, and expert voices (like Betsy Mitchell and Ken Mathys) that have helped them grow from a small glove supplier to a leading dental distribution partner, so you can apply them to your own practice.