Questions You Need to Ask Your Dental Team

As owners of a dental practice, dentists shoulder the responsibility of being great leaders and communicators. Communicating effectively and asking the right questions, coupled with dental practice coaching in South Florida, has the power to transform a shy and unresponsive team into an open and confident one.

When done right, questions can be a catalyst for open dialogue and make team members feel empowered to voice their thoughts, address concerns, and strive toward their professional goals.

Below are essential questions every dentist should ask their team to enhance teamwork, productivity, and overall success.

Ask Your Staff These Questions to Help Them Succeed

What Questions Do You Have?

This first question encourages open dialogue, curiosity, and continuous learning within your team. By inviting questions, you're signaling to your staff that their input and understanding matter.

Aside from disseminating information, you make sure everyone reaches the same conclusions and has the opportunity to seek clarification when needed.

When team members feel comfortable asking questions, it leads to better communication, fewer misunderstandings, and improved patient care. This question also promotes critical thinking and problem-solving because they have to ponder over their roles, procedures, and patient care protocols.  

How Can I Support You?

When you ask how you can support your team members, you're showing empathy and demonstrating you want them to succeed. Remember that, while some concerns are shared by all, each one has their individual goals and challenges.

For instance, some may require additional training or resources to excel in their roles, while others may need emotional support during stressful times. By initiating this conversation, you're providing a safe space for your team to voice their concerns and ask for assistance without fear of judgment.  

If your team feels supported, they're more likely to be engaged, motivated, and loyal to the practice, providing quality services and creating closer relationships with patients.

Where Do You Feel You Are Doing a Good Job?

Acknowledging and celebrating the strengths and achievements of your team members is one of the most effective morale boosters. This question allows you to recognize and appreciate the unique talents and contributions of each team member. Team members who feel valued and appreciated are often more engaged, enthusiastic, and committed to their work.

Moreover, the answers provide useful feedback to you and your staff about their performance and areas of strength. It helps them identify their talents and areas where they excel, which can inform their career development and goals.

Where Do You Need Support or Training?

This question leads your team members to reflect on their skills and identify areas where they may need support or training. It's an opportunity for open and honest communication about professional development needs.

Listening to their needs and giving them the help they need are ways of showing interest and investing in their success. Here’re some training suggestions that may help:

• Technical skills (e.g., new equipment, software)
• Communication skills
• Continuing education in dentistry
• Time management and organization
• Conflict resolution
• Stress management  
• Marketing and patient acquisition strategies

What Is Important to You Now?

In the midst of multiple appointments and endless tasks, you and your team must learn to focus on the here and now. Learning to concentrate on what’s happening in the moment, whether it’s with a patient or an assignment, can greatly improve your staff’s consistency and performance.

Instead of letting distractions take over, instruct your team to ask themselves: "What's the most important thing for me to focus on right now?" This simple question helps them prioritize and stay on track, ensuring they give their full attention to what matters most at the moment it’s asked.

What’s Great in This Situation?

Reframing challenges as opportunities for growth and innovation inspires resilience and creativity within your team. Teach them to use this question when things don’t go as planned or if they feel defeated after a certain outcome.

As a result, your staff will learn to focus on solutions rather than dwelling on problems and get a lesson out of every situation.

Tips to Ask the Right Questions

Avoid Yes-No Questions

Yes-no questions limit the scope of the conversation and often lead to short, uninformative answers. Instead of asking, "Did you understand?" Try asking open-ended questions that encourage deeper reflection and discussion. For example, "What are your thoughts on this topic?" or "Can you tell me more about your approach?"

Make Open-Ended Questions

Open-ended questions invite your team members to share their thoughts, ideas, and experiences more freely, and they begin with words like "what," "how," or "why."

These questions inspire deeper reflection and provide valuable insights, such as "What challenges did you encounter while completing the task, and how did you overcome them?"

Be Clear and Specific

When asking questions, be clear and specific about what you want to know. Vague or ambiguous questions can cause confusion and misunderstandings. Provide context and clarify your expectations to ensure your team members understand the purpose of the question.

Don’t ask, "Can you give me an update?", but "What progress have you made on the project since our last meeting?"

Practice Active Listening

Practice active listening by giving your full attention to the speaker, maintaining eye contact, and avoiding interruptions. Show you care and understand by paraphrasing and summarizing what you've heard before asking follow-up questions.  

Ask Probing Questions

Finally, probe deeper by asking follow-up questions that help your team members expand on their answers. These probing questions can help uncover underlying issues, clarify points of confusion, and stimulate critical thinking.

For example, if a team member mentions a problem they're facing, you could follow up with questions like, "Can you tell me more about how this issue is affecting your work?" or "What do you think might be causing this problem?"

Improve Your Communication with Dental Practice Coaching in South Florida

Ready to become a more effective leader? Contact Fortune Management South Florida and let Brian Houlahan, our expert coach, guide you toward transformative growth. Call us today to learn more!