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Is the friction in your operatory slowing down production? In Episode 63 of Toolbox Tuesday, our COO Jennifer Paxton flies solo to tackle a "hot take" from a recent newsletter: Your assistants are messing it up, but it isn't their fault.

When a "unicorn" hire starts to struggle by Day 126, it’s rarely due to a lack of effort. More often, it’s a breakdown in systems, lack of standardized "cheat sheets," or an onboarding process that was "set-it-and-forget-it." Jennifer discusses how to move past the blame game and create a training environment that supports your team—even in an industry where the average tenure is just 1.3 years.

In this episode, we cover:

Why placing judgment on assistants doesn't solve production delays.

How to standardize setups for different doctors so your team can't fail.

The First 400 Program: A look at how we jumpstart training during the first 8 weeks.

Why you need a "plug-and-play" onboarding system in today’s hiring market.

Why getting two great years out of an employee is a win.

Connect with us: If you want to implement the "First 400" program or need help building cheat sheets for your practice, let’s talk!

Website: pathwaydentalsolutions.com

Email: connect@pathwaydentalsolutions.com

Is your dental practice overly reliant on one long-tenured team member? In this solo episode, Jennifer tackles the complex topic of team loyalty and the vital importance of having robust systems to protect your business when key people inevitably move on. We all want "unicorn" team members who are motivated, successful, and loyal. But loyalty often lasts only as long as it works for that person, whether due to a spouse's transfer, a new baby, or pursuing dental/hygiene school. It's an inevitability your business must be prepared for. Jennifer shares:

Why hoping for perpetual loyalty can be a fear-based mindset.

The danger of high-salaried, long-tenured staff who "hold the keys to the kingdom" because systems are lacking.

How life events (medical issues, accidents) can suddenly remove a key person, and why you need a contingency plan.

The origin and benefit of their "First 400 Program".

The value of performing a red teaming exercise to test your current systems against the worst-case scenario.

Stop living in fear of losing your one key person. Learn how to safeguard your business by relying on systems over individuals, so that you can quickly onboard new team members and keep the wheels turning with minimal interruption.

Connect with Us:

Ready to implement proven systems like The First 400 Program in your practice?

Email: connect@PathwayDentalsolutions.com

Website: pathwaydentalsolutions.com

Book a Call: https://link.pathwaydentalsolutions.c...

Is your dental practice struggling with efficiency because your doctors are wearing long hours as a "badge of honor"?

In this episode of Toolbox Tuesday, Sten Ericson and Jennifer Paxton conclude their series on Sten's recent return to clinical dentistry. They tackle the common challenge of coaching highly educated doctors—who are often "rugged individualists"—to shift from an employee's mindset (working hard) to an owner's mindset (being efficient and impactful).

Key Takeaways from This Episode:

✅ Doctors confusing long hours (like spending an hour on notes after hours) with dedication.

✅ Why taking longer on a case does not equate to a better clinical result—it's just a worse patient experience.

✅ How the belief that "the longer you take, the better it is" impacts appointment times and productivity.

✅ A powerful lesson on why the best dentists are often the most efficient.

✅ Implementing hard stops to ensure your doctors wrap up their work and leave the office early.

Are you ready to coach your associate dentists to be highly efficient, productive leaders? The doctor mentorship component discussed here is a huge part of our Doctor Success Program.

➡️ Connect with us to learn about our Private Client Program: connect@pathwaydentalsolutions.com

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