Managing Dental Drama

Kuba and Bethany tackle some uncomfortable examples of an employee who felt entitled and was quite verbal with her disappointment over gifts she felt were hers. The examples will definitely make the skin crawl, but these are relatively common examples. It is important to set the stage very clearly with team members regarding bonus plans, which are elective extras for the team. Openly complaining about the rules related to getting a bonus is a clear indication that the team might not be ready for a bonus program. It is also important to clearly set the stage for which gifts delivered to the practice are for the doctor and which are for the team. Dr. Kuba’s example gives listeners an uncomfortable example of what can go wrong when a team member does not clearly know the rules related to gifts. 

Previous Episodes Worth Revisiting:
How to Solicit Genuine Feedback from Employees
Clear Expectations and Sticky Conversations  

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Friday, September 18, 2026 from 8:30 – 4:30 
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The conversation continues today! This topic is simply too large to cover in one episode. Today, Dr. Kuba and Bethany talk about what can occur on the team after an employee is fired. First, the terminated employee could very well experience strong emotions after the well-executed termination. He or she could lash out in a variety of ways not limited to bashing you online or in social media, talking negatively about you to professional referral sources, or even luring your employees away to other jobs. How should one manage this explosion of emotions? You might be surprised to hear Bethany mention that most of these reactions are non-consequential and therefore should not elicit a frantic response. Second, Dr. Kuba discusses the critical importance of having a plan and talking openly about the plan. Many team members may wonder who is going to take over the tasks of the terminated employee. BEFORE the termination, it is critical to thoroughly think through a plan for covering the roles and responsibilities of the former employee. 

Previous Episodes Worth Revisiting:
Work Culture Problems
Mama Said They’ll Be Days Like This

Interested in the Leadership Summit? 
Friday, September 18, 2026 from 8:30 – 4:30 
Inquire or register TODAY:  https://www.hellobethany.com/about-3

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After receiving a clear plan of action for terminating a relationship with an employee, the crucial question becomes – How do you handle the aftermath of firing an employee? What do you say to the team? When do you say those things to the team? Often, the aftermath is the scariest part of termination decisions, and at times, the anxiety over the aftermath can even prevent a practice owner from making the decision to fire the employee. In this episode, Dr. Kuba and Bethany unpack the critical timing of informing employees and the formula for which to draft the right message. Respectful and quick communication is essential in cleaning up and rebuilding after losing an employee.  

Previous Episodes Worth Revisiting:
How Many Team Members Do I Need?
Back-Up Employees and Plan B Strategies 

🎉🎊REGISTRATION OPEN:🎈🎉 Bethany and Dr. Kuba are excited to officially open up registration for the two-day CONSULTING CRASH COURSE! This is a course designed ONLY for you and your team. Take your practice to the next level!! Email us at [email protected] today to secure a spot for your team! ⏰

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Firing an employee should always be a last resort, but many practice owners delay in terminating a relationship with an employee simply because they are not confident in HOW to fire an employee. Firing an employee is an incredibly difficult task, and if the task is not handled correctly, it can lead to an emotional explosion. In this episode, Dr. Kuba and Bethany line out a simple formula for terminating an employee. The formula allows for a respectful termination meeting while also protecting the practice owner. If you haven’t had to fire an employee before, you need to be prepared. So, listen closely! If you have fired an employee before, it is worth your time to ensure you do it in the best way possible. 

Previous Episodes Worth Revisiting:
When to Coach and When to Fire Underperforming Employees
Cutting Hours, Cutting Pay, and Exit Interviews 

Interested in the Leadership Summit?
Friday, September 18, 2026 from 8:30 – 4:30
Inquire or register TODAY:  https://www.hellobethany.com/about-3

🎉🎊REGISTRATION OPEN:🎈🎉 Bethany and Dr. Kuba are excited to officially open up registration for the two-day CONSULTING CRASH COURSE! This is a course designed ONLY for you and your team. Take your practice to the next level!! Email us at [email protected] today to secure a spot for your team! ⏰

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Text a 2-minute voice memo to 214.326.4605 with your questions, comments, real-life examples, or tips for a chance to have YOUR voice on the air!

There are times when the team is surprised with or plagued with a disrespectful or dramatic team member. It is unpleasant and can have an impact on every single person. In this episode, Bethany asks Dr. Kuba what she would do in three different scenarios where an employee was dramatic or disrespectful. Dr. Kuba offers office to the practice owners that have suffered with an employee who is verbally disrespectful. She offers advice to the practice owner working to initiate new leaders, and she also extends support to those who have experienced a team member who is always adverse to change. Enjoy the helpful tips in this episode!

Previous Episodes Worth Revisiting:
How to Tackle Uncomfortable Conversations with Employees
The Basics of Team Building 

Interested in the Leadership Summit? 
Friday, September 18, 2026 from 8:30 – 4:30 
Inquire or register TODAY:  https://www.hellobethany.com/about-3

🎉🎊REGISTRATION OPEN:🎈🎉 Bethany and Dr. Kuba are excited to officially open up registration for the two-day CONSULTING CRASH COURSE! This is a course designed ONLY for you and your team. Take your practice to the next level!! Email us at [email protected] today to secure a spot for your team! ⏰

Don't forget to check out our social media for more
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Text a 2-minute voice memo to 214.326.4605 with your questions, comments, real-life examples, or tips for a chance to have YOUR voice on the air!

Everyone worries about it, and yet nobody talks about it. It’s a cringe-worthy topic, and yet every practice owner should diligently work to prevent a board complaint AND be prepared for one as well. In this episode, Dr. Kuba enlightens listeners on a typical board complaint process. She then walks through each step and explains how to best navigate the process. Woven throughout, she offers many tips for those walking through a board complaint. No matter how wonderful a doctor is, it is likely that at some point he or she will receive a complaint. It pays to be prepared!

Previous Episodes Worth Revisiting:
Protecting Your License – Avoiding Common Documentation Errors
The Emotional and Mental Health of the Dentist or Practice Owner

🎉🎊REGISTRATION OPEN:🎈🎉 Bethany and Dr. Kuba are excited to officially open up registration for the two-day CONSULTING CRASH COURSE! This is a course designed ONLY for you and your team. Take your practice to the next level!! Email us at [email protected] today to secure a spot for your team! ⏰

Don't forget to check out our social media for more
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Text a 2-minute voice memo to 214.326.4605 with your questions, comments, real-life examples, or tips for a chance to have YOUR voice on the air!

In a world where insurance continues to find new ways to pay less, it is incredibly frustrating when the dentist and team are somehow the ones to blame. In this episode, Bethany and Dr. Kuba discuss what is becoming a chronically reoccurring problem – patients angry at the dentist when insurance fails to hold up their end of the deal. Bethany has witnessed four angry patients in the past two weeks all with very similar resounding complaints or protests, “I’ve never had to pay this before,” or “I refuse to pay this,” or “The doctor wasn’t in the room long enough for me to be charged this amount.” In all of these complaints, services were rendered and many of those services are the same price they were last year. So, what has changed? Insurance. Insurance pays less and leaves the patient (and the practice) with an unexpected balance. Instead of the patient becoming angry with insurance, they turn their anger to the dentist. Somehow, he or she is in the wrong. Listen closely to this episode to find some strategies to equip your team with the confidence, knowledge, and verbiage they need to tackle these patient complaints.
 
Previous Episodes Worth Revisiting:
Should I Drop Insurance Plans?
The First Signs of Smoke – Spotting an Angry Patient

🎉🎊REGISTRATION OPEN:🎈🎉 Bethany and Dr. Kuba are excited to officially open up registration for the two-day CONSULTING CRASH COURSE! This is a course designed ONLY for you and your team. Take your practice to the next level!! Email us at [email protected] today to secure a spot for your team! ⏰

Don't forget to check out our social media for more
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Text a 2-minute voice memo to 214.326.4605 with your questions, comments, real-life examples, or tips for a chance to have YOUR voice on the air!

Meet Dr. Ludlow! He and Bethany have worked together for almost 10 years. Dr. Ludlow has a unique practice in that is very large and still privately owned. Therefore, it might be surprising to most listeners that Dr. Ludlow does not have an Office Manager. In this episode, he discusses his strategic decision to grow a large, successful practice without a manager in place. Although practices can be successful with and without a manager, Dr. Ludlow manages his own practice and is passionate about doing away with the bureaucracy and directly leading his practice well. Because of this “No-Manager Model,” Dr. Ludlow is on the frontlines of disgruntled patients and team members and therefore has learned to pivot and adapt in order to meet the needs of his growing team and practice. Enjoy learning from Dr. Ludlow!

Previous Episodes Worth Revisiting:
The Highs and Lows of Family Members as Employees
What is Servant Leadership? 

🎉🎊REGISTRATION OPEN:🎈🎉 Bethany and Dr. Kuba are excited to officially open up registration for the two-day CONSULTING CRASH COURSE! This is a course designed ONLY for you and your team. Take your practice to the next level!! Email us at [email protected] today to secure a spot for your team! ⏰

Don't forget to check out our social media for more
Managing Dental Drama FB
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Connect with the Managing Dental Drama Community!
Managing Dental Drama Membership Club Sign-Up

Wait! There's More!
We want to hear YOUR voice!
Text a 2-minute voice memo to 214.326.4605 with your questions, comments, real-life examples, or tips for a chance to have YOUR voice on the air!

Dr. Kuba is back in the studio today, and she is asking some very raw questions. She confesses that there have been many times in her career where she simply doesn’t care, so she asks Bethany how to push past these moments. Together, they discuss why practice owners and team members sometimes hit theoretical walls and what to do once you hit them. At times life out balances work, and this certainly impacts motivation, drive, and enthusiasm. It is important to take the time to recalibrate, redistribute, and refocus on the tasks that matter the most.

Previous Episodes Worth Revisiting:
Preventing Stress and Burnout
How to Have Corrective Conversations with Employees

🎉🎊REGISTRATION OPEN:🎈🎉 Bethany and Dr. Kuba are excited to officially open up registration for the two-day CONSULTING CRASH COURSE! This is a course designed ONLY for you and your team. Take your practice to the next level!! Email us at [email protected] today to secure a spot for your team! ⏰

Don't forget to check out our social media for more
Managing Dental Drama FB
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Connect with the Managing Dental Drama Community!
Managing Dental Drama Membership Club Sign-Up

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We want to hear YOUR voice!
Text a 2-minute voice memo to 214.326.4605 with your questions, comments, real-life examples, or tips for a chance to have YOUR voice on the air!

Oftentimes practice owners groan about the necessity of “morning” huddles. In fact, many practice owners opt to do away with them completely. In this episode, Bethany discusses all of the benefits associated with a daily or weekly huddle. Benefits include preparation for the patient's care plan, accountability for team members to prepare, and setting the tone for the day. Due to the benefits of a daily/weekly huddle, Bethany uses this episode to unpack the nuts and bolts of implementing or improving your “morning” huddle. 

Previous Episodes Worth Revisiting:
What is Good Customer Service?
Preventing Stress and Burnout  

Interested in the Leadership Summit?
Friday, September 18, 2026 from 8:30 – 4:30
Inquire or register TODAY:  HelloBethany.com

🎉🎊REGISTRATION OPEN:🎈🎉 Bethany and Dr. Kuba are excited to officially open up registration for the two-day CONSULTING CRASH COURSE! This is a course designed ONLY for you and your team. Take your practice to the next level!! Email us at [email protected] today to secure a spot for your team! ⏰

Don't forget to check out our social media for more
Managing Dental Drama FB
Managing Dental Drama IG

Connect with the Managing Dental Drama Community!
Managing Dental Drama Membership Club Sign-Up

Wait! There's More!
We want to hear YOUR voice!
Text a 2-minute voice memo to 214.326.4605 with your questions, comments, real-life examples, or tips for a chance to have YOUR voice on the air!