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Cynthia McKane-Wagester is the founder
and President of McKane & Associates, a full service management company
servicing healthcare practices. Her career in healthcare began when
she graduated from the University of Maryland Dental School with a degree
in Dental Hygiene. After graduation, she pursued a Master’s degree
in Health Administration. Cynthia has served as president of the state
and local components of the Maryland Dental Hygiene Association and
a coordinator of fund raising efforts for the University of Maryland
Dental School. She presents seminars and workshops nationally and is
a frequent contributor to many dental publications. Founded in 1993,
McKane & Associates’ expertise is in developing excellence in staffing,
systems and work philosophy and ensuring that all team members, whether
proven or inexperienced, adapt their skills to meet the ever-changing
workplace. Find more information about their services at www.mckane-assoc.com.
Cynthia can be reached at her offices in Maryland at 800-341-1244 or
by e-mail: CMandAssoc@aol.com.
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Whether you’re a seasoned dental professional or
a novice just ready to begin your journey, you must rekindle your commitment
to your profession. Revitalizing your passion for dentistry is essential.
With passion, we are motivated and enthusiastic about what we are doing
and are able to identify our purpose and articulate that purpose within
a philosophy that has true meaning.
For us, the most important thing is a commitment to excellence. Excellence
means striving to be the best that we can be in our practices. Even
if we don’t perform perfectly, if we strive to do things to the
best of our ability, surround ourselves with good people, and treat
our patients with care and consideration, then we cannot fail. More
than anything else, we must desire to be the best.
Our co-workers must also feel this passion because that passion will
motivate them as well. One of the greatest advantages of understanding
our purpose is that it allows us to demonstrate the value of the care
and service we provide. The verbal skill needed to explain the advantages
of dental treatment flows automatically when those words come from the
heart. Because you maintain a clear vision of the difference dentistry
can make in someone’s lifestyle and health, you’ll take advantage
of every opportunity to give the patient more information.
To become an excellent dental professional you must first envision your
objectives and you must set goals. These steps, if implemented over
the next 6 months, will rekindle you level of enthusiasm.
Develop a Philosophy of Practice
Offer the best you have, and assume the best in return.
-Dennis Waitley, “Being the Best”
Just as it is true that no two people are exactly alike, it is also
true that no two people have exactly the same basic philosophy. It is
extremely important to know what your mission is; however, most people
do not have a written document clearly stating their mission. Take the
time to think this issue through because it provides the “passion”
power for your personal and professional development.
A strong sense of mission is essential if you are to reach objectives.
Before your objectives can be clear, you must think about your purpose.
Without a clear picture of purpose or direction you will simply tread
water instead of progress and grow. Think about why you work in dentistry.
Where do you intend to be in five years in terms of your job, your family,
and the practice of dentistry? In other words: What’s your vision?
Some statements of mission are very short: “It is my purpose to
assist every patient to achieve lifetime of dental health.” Alternatively,
they can be more inclusive: “My purpose is to help achieve a state
of optimal dental and oral health personally appropriate for them. By
continually striving to provide excellence in personal and professional
service, I intended to accomplish this in a caring and gentle manner,
thus enhancing the quality of my patients’ lives.”
These two statements represent a broad orientation. The focus can, if
you choose, be much narrower: “I recognize and wish to concentrate
on the dental health needs of senior citizens. It is my mission to educate
and to cater to the very special needs of this important and growing
segment of the population.”
A person who has a written statement reflecting their sense of purpose
is in a much stronger position when the time comes to develop individual
marketing strategies. When you know who you are, it is much easier to
know what to do in each and every situation.
The following is a list of things your statement of mission might include
if you are seeking to be effective:
* A declaration about quality, excellence, and efficiency as they relate
to your personal and professional life. You must have talent and determination.
Most of all, you must love your work. You must make a commitment to
being the best. Your knowledge of your field—dentistry—must
be very current.
* A statement that reflects your position regarding honesty, integrity,
and fairness in dealing with clients. Dentistry has a code of ethics,
and we must hold ourselves accountable to it.
* The kind of atmosphere you want to create within an organization,
not only for your family, but also for the practice with which you associate.
Remember that the dental team plays the most important role in the success
of a practice. Very few external factors have as much impact as does
the quality of the team. Take charge and take initiative.
* The type of people you prefer to serve in your practice.
* A statement regarding the areas in which you are especially interested
(preventive dentistry, community involvement, the needs of children,
etc.).
Once you create and commit your philosophy, you can practice what you
believe. Walk and talk your philosophy. Practice what you preach. Establish
standards, and monitor the health of your dental practice. It is your
ethical and professional responsibility to educate and motivate your
patients to accept the treatment you know they need. Remember that no
one ever becomes successful by only doing what is required of him or
her. Raise your standards and give more of yourself. Then you will achieve
the success you deserve.
Set Goals
When you embark on something, fix your intentions and selfishness
behind you, then you cannot fail.
-Miyamoto Musashi. The Book of Five Rings - 1596
Goal setting gives you a sense of direction and keeps you focused. It
also prevents you from feeling frustrated. For you to have any chance
of achieving your goals, they must be written down. If you don’t
commit your goals to paper, they are not goals!
* Social and family
* Business and financial
* Self-actualization
The following are 6 steps to follow and achieving these goals:
1. Identify the goal—decide what you truly want to achieve, as
an individual, an office, or a staff member.
2. Define your objectives or strategies for accomplishing each goal.
3. Identify the person who is responsible for each strategy related
to achieving each goal.
4. Set a time or date for the accomplishment of each goal or strategy—no
more than 1 year.
5. Evaluate your methods. Even if your original strategy did not work,
learn from this! Change your strategy and work ahead! Be prepared to
embrace change. A main reason people don’t achieve what they want
is that they’re afraid to change.
6. Realize that growth comes from all types of experiences—be positive!
Problems are meant to be solved; assigning blame is worthless and counterproductive.
Ask yourself: “What can I do to make things better?” Turn
the negatives into positives and GROW!
Keep your goals realistic and describe in great detail how you will
benefit in the long term. Make a point of also writing down, as vividly
as you can, what will happen if you don’t meet your goals.
Try to describe the changes in your life and that of your family that
will happen in one year, five years, and ten years, both if you do achieve
your goals and if you don’t. By creating a realistic understanding
of the pain you will have if you fail and conversely, the pleasure you
will have if you succeed, your motivation will increase exponentially.
Remember, there are three kinds of people in this world:
* Those that make it happen
* Those that watch it happen
* Those that wonder: “What happened?”
If you don’t know where you are going, it doesn’t matter what
road you take!
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