Partnered Minds

TAKEAWAY:

D.A.R.E. to say "No" and do it respectfully.

The acronym D.A.R.E. is a tool to help us say "no" while still being respectful to others within our dental community. While the acronym is something I came up with myself, the idea that saying "no" is a vital tool for success, health, and happiness, is very much a credit to my man-crush, Greg McKeown. It can be hard to say "no" sometimes...or a lot of the time! Especially when it's to something good, "worthy" or important. This is why it's beneficial to have a clear direction or vision for our life, practice, etc. That clarity makes "no" easier to say because we can see that it doesn't lead us closer to achieving our said vision. Even WITH clarity though, "no" can be uncomfortable. It's not the social norm, especially in our fast-paced, more-is-better society. Thankfully, Greg breaks this conundrum down for us SO succinctly in his book "Essentialism - The Disciplined Pursuit of Less".  And that's just one chapter. The whole read is life-changing. I STRONGLY recommend everyone in the dental community read it and to consider becoming an essentialist.

D: Direct- make sure no one leaves the conversation unsure of whether or not you'll show up

A: Appreciate- express gratitude for the ask/offer presented to you

R: Remember the trade-off- saying "no" is simultaneously saying "yes" to something else of your choosing

     OR

     Request- ask for more time to review the offer and be sure to pair the request with a deadline you'll provide an answer by, "Can I get back to you before end of day tomorrow on that?" 

E: Explain- sometimes detailing your reason for declining, helps lessen the blow

REFERENCED MINDS:

Greg Mckeown author of the life-changing book, "Essentialism- The Disciplined Pursuit of Less" 

TAKEAWAY:

"Change your thoughts and you change your world" - Norman Vincent Peale

Perscribe to Good Vibes means BE POSITIVE! Reasons to "Prescribe to Good Vibes" include increased confidence and lower level of the stress hormone (cortisol). As we cultivate a positive mindset, workdays will be more enjoyable and others will want to be around us more.

Positivity takes up whatever space we give it, but so does negativity so focus on keeping the (-) small and see greater (+) begin to unfold!

 How do we become MORE positive? 

1. Be AWARE of our own thoughts and the thoughts/conversations of others. 

2. Make a conscious choice to enter the workplace positively, with an aim to find the good in every situation. 

3. Bite our tongue. Or as Thumper put it, "If you can't say somethin' nice, don't say anything at all."

4. Have others hold us accountable toward our prescription to good vibes.

REFERENCED MINDS:

Norman Vincent Peal

TAKEAWAY: 

Money is a freakin' awesome tool for good. And developing a healthy mindset surrounding money will provide you; freedom, the ability to pursue what you love, and increase your ability to help others.

The ideas shared in this episode are founded in the belief that when we view money as something we have a relationship with, we can either tend to that relationship proactively and thoughtfully OR with disregard, casualty, or even fear. The relationship we foster is directly correlated with how much money we see come and go in our lives and how happy we can be.

REFERENCED MINDS:

You Are A Badass At Making Money; Master the Mindset of Wealth by Jen Sincero

Robert Kiyosaki, author of Rich Dad, Poor Dad

TAKEAWAY:

Clearly defining my direction puts me on a path I choose and gives me both purpose and true ability to enjoy the journey. 

Life gives you what you ask for, so be sure to ask for the things which are MOST important to you. A clear vision allows you to find joy and purpose during tough times and prevents you from blaming others for your own situation. " If you don't prioritize your life, someone else will" - Greg Mckeown. 

It's crucial to get your OWN vision down on paper. Tips for getting that done include:

 1. Set aside dedicated time in a quiet space. 

2. Start by clarifying the categories of your life that are MOST important to you. Then get specific about how each area looks in your "dream life" 

3. Begin with the End in Mind, then work backward (ie retiring at 60, I need to make how much per year until then to maintain the life I want)

4. WRITE IT DOWN! This is so important and allows your brain to more fully commit to your vision. Plus, it's easy to reference often.

Referenced Minds

"Essentialism; the Disciplined Pursuit of Less" by: Greg Mckeown 

Former NCAA basketball coach, John Wooden

TAKEAWAY:

Be calm. How we handle our emotions has a ripple effect on everyone around us.

Whether you find your solace in a monthly session of Hot Tub Therapy, being outdoors, or creating something, it's vital to take that time outside of work to decompress and relieve our minds and emotional tanks from work stress. This self-care helps ensure that we're equipped with the mental and emotional capacity to maintain professional composure and make quality decisions AT work. Being calm in any given circumstance is a choice. It's much easier to remember that we have that choice when our emotional tank is full. This should be a priority because how we act (stress vs calm) at work has a major ripple effect on co-workers and patients around us. 

When we find ourselves in the middle of stressful, chaotic, or frustrating bouts of the workday, remember that we can do things like;

TAKEAWAY: NONE TODAY. NO SHORT-CUTS ON THIS ONE!

There is one sure way to improve ANY aspect of your life. Having a solid morning routine will lead to more focused and productive days. The positive effects of great mornings compound throughout your life. Do you have trouble actually getting out of bed? Hal Elrod's book called the Miracle Morning helps you remove obstacles to waking up and helps you become a morning person. Hal's acronym Life "Savers" guides you through what a miracle morning looks like. Through SAVERS you'll be able to accomplish more, stress less, and become who you're meant to be!

S: Silence 

A: Affirmations 

V: Visualization  

E: Exercise 

R: Reading  and 

S: Scribing/Journaling, 

REFERENCED MINDS:

Miracle Morning by: Hal Elrod https://www.miraclemorning.com/books/

Meditation Apps: Headspace-https://www.headspace.com/  Calm- https://www.calm.com/

Yoga App/Website: https://www.alomoves.com/

TAKEAWAY:

The way that we respond to an angry patient is just as (if not more) important than their concern itself. 

When was the last time you had an angry patient? Do you feel like you responded in an appropriate manner? When a patient is frustrated, there are several tools we can use to help resolve their concern quickly and effectively.

Here's a running list of the tools mentioned in this episode, in no particular order;

Our goal as dental providers should always be quality care and great outcomes. Being familiar with what these tools are and how to use them when situations arise can help move things in that direction!

REFERENCED MINDS:

How to Win Friends and Influence People by: Dale Carnegie

It's Not About the Nail YouTube video about the importance is listening and validating before offering solutions

TAKEAWAY:

Choose your perception

The way you perceive others directly affects how you treat and communicate with them. By choosing to alter your beliefs about someone, you can go from having a miserable relationship to a happier, more productive one following three simple steps.

1. Acknowledge the power of your perception- the way you see things/people shapes your reality and the relationships you have

2. Use that power to change things- you're half of the equation in any relationship so start seeing others as the winners you want them to be

3. Act on your new belief- treat that person like the valuable (kind, helpful, etc) co-worker you believe they are

REFERENCED MINDS:

Extreme Ownership: How a U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win by: Jocko Willink and Leif Babin

Morty Lefkoe Method- your perception of reality is reality

TAKEAWAY:

Commitment precedes qualification.

Your commitment to a cause, goal, etc PRECEDS your qualification to achieve it. Many people delay something they want to do simply because they don't feel qualified. I was stuck in that mindset for two years, waiting until I owned a dental practice in order to start the Partnered Mind podcast. I still don't own, but here we are because if we wait until we're qualified, we'll never even get started!

This episode dives into two things. First, what the Partnered Mind podcast aims to accomplish -spoiler alert--it's stated in the opening tagline of every episode. Secondly, what I mean when I say that commitment precedes qualification, and how that led me to sit my closet on a day off work.

REFERENCED MINDS:

                 (Both are books I mentioned this episode as being some favorites in the self-help genre.)

TAKEAWAY:

Compliments are the most simple, yet overlooked way to "pay" and encourage those we work with.

It's been said that the hunger humans have for appreciation is second only to the hunger for food. What we say matters. So don't miss an opportunity to compliment team members for the hard work they're doing daily! Showing appreciation is one of the easiest ways to build a better practice. Turnover in the dental field can be minimized by simply thanking team members for the hard work they do.