Management When you take the time to define your core values and live by them, decision-making becomes extremely easy. You don't have to push your team forward. The mission, vision and values pull them in the right direction.

Peak Performance Unleashed: Breaking the Cycle The iconic struggle between Charlie Brown and Lucy in the Peanuts gang mirrors the challenges many of us face in achieving our goals. Every new year, we set ambitious resolutions, only to find ourselves tripped up by our own habits and routines, much like Lucy pulling away the football just as Charlie is about to kick it to the moon. In this blog post, we'll explore how to break free from the Lucy Effect and achieve peak performance in 2023, drawing insights from our online training, "Peak Performance for Healthcare Providers." Key Concepts from Peak Performance: Mindful Productivity with…

Align Technology Faces Headwinds Amidst Slowing Demand Align Technology, the company behind the innovative Invisalign system, has recently faced some challenges that have sent its shares tumbling. In a disappointing turn of events, the company fell short on quarterly earnings and subsequently had to revise its guidance due to a noticeable slowdown in demand. For the third quarter, Align reported adjusted earnings of $2.14 per share, falling short of Wall Street estimates of $2.26. Net revenue for the same period also missed expectations, coming in at $960.2 million instead of the anticipated $994.5 million. President and CEO Joe Hogan attributed these struggles to deteriorating trends in the…

Lessons from Smile Direct Club’s Chapter 11 Filing: A Perspective for Orthodontic Practices The recent news of SmileDirectClub's voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing has sent shockwaves through the orthodontic industry. As professional trainers in the orthodontic industry, it's crucial to dissect the lessons that can be learned from this development. Hindsight may be 20/20, but there are valuable takeaways from this situation. Disrupting Through Price: The D2C Model on Trial One of the most significant theories put to the test here is the Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) model's ability to disrupt the orthodontic industry through competitive pricing. SmileDirectClub (SDC) initially gained attention for its lower-cost alternative to traditional orthodontic treatment. However, their recent financial struggles…

Marketing Enhance practice visibility and brand awareness, attract new patients and build trust within the community. Ensure patients are well-informed and empowered to make the best healthcare decisions while improving access to quality care in your community.

Why it’s Critical (and Profitable) to Offer Remote Monitoring in Your Practice In the wake of the recent bankruptcy filing by SmileDirectClub for voluntary protection under Chapter 11, a dialogue has opened up in the industry about the efficacy of using online aligner companies. Practitioners agree that the company proved one critical theory to be true – patients appreciate and will embrace avoiding office visits for aligner treatments. They prefer remote care that doesn’t complicate their daily lives. In Hand Dental absolutely believes in the value of teledentistry – but we are also strong advocates about the need for all dental patients, especially those who’ve invested in clear aligners – to regularly…

The Power of Patient Referrals: Strengthening Your Practice through Word-of-Mouth Across the board, dental and orthodontic practices were flat to down in new patients and production last month. I host a monthly coaching call for our members and the most common question is, "How do I get more new patients?" It's a common place for most doctors to start when practice productivity has stalled. While I don't disagree that new patients are a significant factor in the growth of any elective healthcare practice, a far more productive question to ask is "What are we doing with the patients we already have?" How are we fulfilling the promises we make in…

Sales and Marketing in an Economic Downturn There's a general sense that the Federal Reserve might pull off a soft landing but high inflation isn't making the task an easy one. Even though most economists now predict (85%) that we might actually avoid a recession in the US, Wall Street is skeptical. The US inflation rate is 3.67%, up from 3.18% last month and 8.26% last year. It's higher than the long term average of 3.28%. Existing home sales in the US are off from 4.88 million a year ago to 4.07 million last month, trending down 2.16% month-over-month and nearly 17% year-over-year. All four major U.S.…

Leadership Inspire and motivate your team, foster a positive work environment and boost employee morale. Learn how to make informed decisions, set clear goals and allocate resources efficiently so that patient care and outcomes are maximized. A culture of excellence, innovation and compassion begins here.

Navigating the Unknown: A Lesson in Contingency Planning from Henry Kissinger As the world mourns the recent passing of Henry Kissinger, a seasoned diplomat and strategic thinker, it's worth revisiting some of his insights that could serve as an unexpected lesson for the most unexpected situations. Earlier this year, Kissinger made an intriguing statement regarding the Ukraine war, urging us to contemplate the potential repercussions of providing Ukraine with advanced Western arms and technology. His unique perspective raised the critical question: What if the country's politics took an unexpected turn, posing a threat to Europe? It was a unique question from Kissinger no one was asking. This scenario, though hypothetical, underscores…

Effective Storytelling The more I hang around top performers and study some of the best minds in marketing, management and leadership, the more I discover the best leaders and most effective people in any field are exceptional storytellers. Most doctors and dentists don't give much thought to storytelling. This is a mistake and huge opportunity when you get better at sharing compelling stories that move people in the right direction. In the realm of dentistry and orthodontics, every interaction with patients, colleagues, or potential clients presents an opportunity to convey a compelling narrative. The power of storytelling lies not only in sharing what…

Lessons in Leadership and Excellence from Coach Bob Hurley I hope this update finds you well and ready for a nice Thanksgiving holiday in the US. Today, I want to draw your attention to the remarkable achievements of Coach Bob Hurley, a true icon in the world of high school basketball coaching. At 65, Coach Hurley boasted a stellar record of over 1,000 wins and 25 state championships, making him a living legend in the game. In 2010, he was honored with induction into the prestigious Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, a testament to his unparalleled contributions to the sport. However, what sets Coach Hurley apart is not…