Gossip at Work: The Hidden Cost of Chatter Dental Drill Bits with Sandy Pardue and Dana Salisbury Gossip at Work: The Hidden Cost of Chatter 0:00

Episode Description Gossip may seem like harmless chatter, but it has the power to erode trust, damage morale, and derail productivity in your dental practice. In this episode, Sandy and Dana tackle the tough topic of workplace gossip—what it sounds like, why it spreads, and how to stop it before it takes a toll on your culture and your team.

From NLRB rules to real-life consulting stories, they share practical ways to address negativity, encourage accountability, and build a team that thrives on trust. Plus, Dana delivers scripted verbal skills you can use right away to shut gossip down respectfully and effectively.

Whether you're a practice owner, manager, or team member, this episode will help you foster a workplace where professionalism wins and gossip has no place.

In This Episode You'll Learn:

• Why "friendly chatter" sometimes crosses the line into legal risk

• What the National Labor Relations Board says about banning gossip

• How negativity spreads—and how to stop it at the source

• Why some team members resist consulting and how to handle it

• How to create a safe, gossip-free workspace with open doors and clear roles

• The real reason broken appointments and low morale go hand in hand

• Why clearly defined job descriptions reduce friction and confusion

• How to use team agreements and core values to unify your staff

• A leadership lesson from the book The Energy Bus by Jon Gordon

• Verbal skills to shut gossip down with professionalism

• Why patients are paying attention to more than just your dentistry

Bonus Resource: Want a team-building moment at your next staff meeting? Look up the poem "Nobody's Friend" and read it aloud. You might be surprised by the conversations it sparks.

Upcoming Event: Front Desk Pro – Philadelphia May 9, 2025 Use promo code SECRETSAUCE (capital S in Secret and Sauce) to save $100 per person Seats are limited and these events always sell out!

Thank You to Our Sponsors:

Plan Forward Plan Forward makes membership plans easy. Their revolutionary platform helps you grow your dental practice, improve patient loyalty, and create predictable recurring revenue. Learn more at planforward.io.

Mango Voice Mango Voice is a cloud-based phone system built for dental offices. It's packed with smart features that help your front desk perform at its best—from call recording and routing to texting and integrations. See it in action at mangovoice.com.

Identity Dental Marketing Your marketing firm should tell you who's landing on your website and what they're doing there. Identity Dental Marketing does that—and more. From website strategy to SEO and patient attraction systems, they help you grow smart and stay visible. Explore at identitydental.com.

Subscribe & Share: Love what you're hearing? Don't forget to subscribe, leave us a review, and share this episode with a dental friend who's ready to build a drama-free, high-performing team.