Resolutions that Will Help Your Practice this New Year

With the new year just starting it's time to look ahead at what goals you want to accomplish, and how you want to accomplish them.

It’s a new year meaning it’s once again time to pick a resolution, a goal that you will try to see out through the entire new year and hopefully complete by its conclusion. However, many of us tend to drop these resolutions before January is even through. This year pick a resolution that has meaningful stakes to it, one that will help you grow as a dentist and grow your own business. Here are a some to consider for this brand-new year.

Learn Something New

You are your most important asset at the end of the day, and you won’t be able to execute your vision without continuing to adapt and learn. By learning something new you can add a tool to your skill set that can increase your practice’s success, and maybe even help with personal growth.

You should also identify areas that you are weakest at and make sure in 2019 you won’t be weak in them any longer. For instance, if you aren’t sure the details of how your own books are run then brush up on your accounting knowledge. This will provide you with firmer ground where you didn’t have any before.

Delegate More

Take a look at your work load from the past year and find a way to lighten it. You’re surrounded by a talented staff of peers, don’t be afraid to ask for help when you have to. Dentists feel like they have to do it all sometimes, and it’s easy to get lost in that mindset. Be proactive and don’t let your workload reach that point. By delegating you will also be able to have a firmer foundation for your practice as every employee will know their role in executing your vision.

Network with Your Peers

Don’t let yourself get stuck in a bubble of your own creation. Sometimes you do have to bury yourself in work to get it done but come up for air this new year and find out what else is happening in your field. New techniques, new treatments, and new findings are always happening and it’s important to stay up to date with this information as best as possible.

This makes networking not only an invaluable skill for graduates looking for their first dental job, it makes it an invaluable skill for professionals with experience as well. Find the best conferences to attend or utilize your own online presence to connect with peers. Engage in conversations that will challenge you and inform you. You might just find the missing ingredient to make your practice a smashing success this new year.

Improve Communications

Communication is everything. From one on one conversations, to email, to text, and even to twitter, communication is the most important tool you have to build your practice. That’s why it’s not only essential to keep your communication lines open, you need to constantly improve them. For 2019 strive to find ways to better communicate with your staff and patients. Don’t leave your staff guessing as to what they should do, tell them what they need to do and when you need them to do it. Also, make sure they know they can always talk to you no matter the situation. By doing this you can avoid conflict before it even happens and understand your team better, making working together a joy instead of a headache.

Patients also need to be kept in the loop and know that you are actively looking to help them. Find ways to ensure that your patients are kept up to date with their treatment information as well as changes happening within your practice. Invest in an online portal if you have to or create a monthly newsletter they can follow. With clear lines of communication your practice will continue to run smoothly and address issues efficiently.

Don’t settle for the same old resolutions in 2019. Identify the goals you want to achieve for you and your practice and make your resolution work towards that. Invest in yourself and your business in order to make 2019 your best year yet.

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