Dos and don'ts for team efficiency

Start the day right with a daily business meeting

The most important appointment of the day occurs before you see any patients. It's the daily business meeting, when the doctor and all team members get a quick snapshot of what to expect that day and what will be expected of each of them. This indispensable management tool makes it much easier for individual staff members and the team as a whole to operate at peak efficiency, day after day.

Follow basic rules to maximize the value of the meeting. Keep your daily business meeting tight and on track. Avoid distractions by locating it away from the front desk, not answering phones, and not allowing cellphone usage. Designate someone to run the meeting. Always use a written agenda – and don't just have one, follow it. Set a strict start time and time limit, probably 15 minutes.

Don't leave the business of dentistry out of the meeting. Rather than merely reviewing clinical procedures scheduled for that day, discuss marketing, collections, patient communication, and other nonclinical tasks that must be completed. Track performance against targets, and make it clear who's responsible for meeting them.