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June 1, 2013

Code of Conduct

Even the best of us can lose our way in all the noise and hubbub of the day to day stresses! Establishing a Code of Conduct for the practice will help the entire team keep on track…even in stressful situations!

A Code of Conduct is really about thinking before reacting. Behaviorally, that means testing decisions and planned activities for “rightness” before implementing them.

Here are 6 questions to help you create your own code of conduct:

Is it legal?
Does it align with my values?
Will I be comfortable and guilt-free if I do it?
Would I do it to my family and friends?
Would I perfectly okay with someone doing it to me?
Would the most ethical person I know do it?

I suggest a team meeting (3 hours minimal) to establish a Code of Conduct for the practice. Start the meeting by reviewing the Practice’s Core Values and Vision. Ask the entire team to share how, when and where they feel the Core Values are not being supported. Utilize a large easel pad and markers to write down all the concerns being shared. Discuss the breakdowns that are happening. What current behaviors support the Core Values? What current behaviors need changing to support the Core Values? The behaviors you list that support as well as the necessary changes become your new Code of Conduct!

It is very important for the We Team (leadership team) to be willing to lead by example on whatever is established as the Code of Conduct.

Here are an examples of commitments from a Code of Conduct.

Model the waddle you want to see
Set and maintain high standards – no double standards
Support a no gossip culture
Communicate openly, honestly, and respectfully
Treat patients and each other how you want to be treated
Resolve conflict by going to the source the same day if possible
Take ownership, follow through, and be accountable for your mistakes
Support each other and hold each other accountable to the standards of behavior, communication, attitude and service

Having a Code of Conduct will empower the entire team to support the Core Values!

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May 1, 2013

Laughter Is The Best Medicine!

Add a regular dose of laughter to every day and you will not only be happier you will also be healthier! However, it is not always so easy to do. We get so busy we focus only on just getting the job done. We don’t slow down enough to take time to laugh! We need to add laughter to our list of priorities! Who doesn’t want to be happier and healthier? I am going to bombard you with the benefits of laughing! Here are the WIIFY (What’s in it for you) if you do!

Laughter triggers healthy physical changes in the body. A good, hearty laugh relieves physical tension and stress, leaving your muscles relaxed for up to 45 minutes after. Laughter boosts the immune system. Laughter decreases stress hormones and increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, improving your resistance to disease. Laughter triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals. Endorphins promote an overall sense of well-being and can even temporarily relieve pain. Laughter protects the heart. Laughter improves the functon of blood vessels and increases blood flow, which can protect you against a heart attack and other cardiovascular problems. Now that I have your attention…it’s time to practice laughing! That’s right; it’s just like anything else. If you want to be good at it you have to practice. Think about it. When was the last time you had a hearty laugh? No I am not talking about a little chuckle. I am talking about a throw your head back, side holding, and tear streaming…almost pee in your pants laugh! You don’t need to have a sense of humor, be happy or have any reason to laugh. You can just laugh for the sake of laughing! Maybe you don’t feel like laughing. It is important to laugh whether you feel like it or not. Just review the WIIFY list again if you doubt me. Instead of having you read how to make yourself laugh let Dr. Madan Kataria an expert on the subject…show you!

So did you laugh? I hope so…I sure did! Now how do you feel? Just one a day will help you to get on your way to a happier and healthier life!

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April 1, 2013

Conversation or Conflict?

The real problem is that many of us go through life trying to avoid dealing with conflict out of fear! We hope it will just go away! But the more we try to avoid it the more it builds until eventually it escalates to a point to where there is serious damage to the relationship. Our success and joy in life depends greatly on our relationships! Life would be so much easier if conflict did not exist. But that isn’t real life! I invite you to listen to and read this month’s newsletter to learn the 5 easy steps to turn conflict into just a conversation!

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March 1, 2013

Making Decisions that Get Results! How to Soar in 2013!

Make Decisions that Get Results!

Decisions, decisions, decisions…what to do, when, where, why and how! Many of us do not like moving outside our comfort zone. We like to feel safe and secure so we resist making decisions. We don’t want to look foolish or fall flat on our faces. The older we get the more complacent we become. The problem with complacency is it kills our passion. It makes us play ourselves small. It clips our wings and keeps us from soaring to new heights. The decision of whether to play it safe and hang on to what we know and just survive…or take a leap of faith and go after our dreams and try to soar!

The five fundamental phases in the decision making process are choice, assessment, conviction, determination, and result. So let’s start with Choice because it is the starting point for all our decisions. Just like Before we can make a decision we need to narrow down our focus to our main priority. (I invite you to read February’s newsletter if you want to read more about focus.) What will be your focus for 2013? Will it be just to continue doing the same things you have always done and play it safe or will it be to take on new things to attempt to soar? Choosing your focus will determine where you go!

The second phase is Assessment. Assessing our strengths and where we need to grow to soar will determine when and where we need to focus.

Conviction is the third phase. Having conviction that we can achieve our goal allows us to try new things and push ourselves to heights we have never been before.

Determination is the fourth phase. If we don’t have determination we will not be be willing to put forth the effort to do the work whenever necessary to implement, maintain and sustain our goal!

The fifth and final phase is Result! It is important to know what you want your end result to be…otherwise, how will you know when to celebrate your success!

It’s your decision! How high will you soar?

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February 14, 2013

Stressed, Challenged and Frustrated to Happy, Healthy and Performing’.

Recently, I had the privilege of being interviewed by my friend, Gary Takacs on his awesome Thriving Dentist Show audio podcast. In this weekly audio podcast, Gary provides specific content on how to develop a thriving dental practice and he often interviews authorities on topics of interest to his audience. The Thriving Dentist Show is the #1 Dental podcast on iTunes and has been downloaded by Dentists in 91 countries!

I was thrilled to be invited as a guest and Gary and we chose to title the show ‘Go From Stressed, Challenged and Frustrated to Happy, Healthy and Performing’.

Here is a link for my interview: http://bit.ly/XzTZZS

One of the fundamental differences between an OK dental practice and a thriving dental practice is that in thriving dental practices the Dentist and Team Members are happy and they enjoy working together. When the Dentist and Team is happy and functioning as a team, patients can feel it and they have a much better experience. However, a positive practice environment does not happen by itself, it must be developed.

If you find the show of value, as many Dentists have, you can subscribe to it on iTunes so you will never miss an episode. Just search for Thriving Dentist Show on iTunes. It is free!”

I hope you enjoyed the interview!

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February 1, 2013

Focus & Achieve Your Goals!

Filed under: Accountability,Communication,Decision Making,Dental Practice Management,Focus,Goals,Leadership,Performance,Strategy,Team Building,Team Relationships,Uncategorized — Tags: accountability, attitude, Coaching, communication, Decision making, Dental Practice, Dental Team Performance, energy, focus, goals, Judy Kay Mausolf, leadership, purpose, success, sustain, team, team building — Judy Kay Mausolf @ 9:00 am

There is a quote by Jenee Dana “You get what you focus on.” It sounds so simple but it’s not! It’s not because we can so easily lose sight of our focus. Our human tendency is to compare and compete with others to measure how we are doing. When we use others as our measuring stick we quickly lose our focus and follow their focus! Learn how to keep your focus and achieve your goals!

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January 22, 2013

Mastering Accountability by Eliminating the Myths in Your Dental Practice!

Accountability…just saying the word can give us the UGH feeling! As dental professionals, we strive for accountability and often have a difficult time achieving it. It becomes tiresome and frustrating for us, so we give up! Actually, it is the myths about accountability that cause our frustration and set us up for failure. If we really understood what it took to create accountability, we could prevent the frustration and persevere. I invite you to read my latest article in Dentistry IQ, “Mastering Accountability by Eliminating the Myths in Your Dental Practice” to learn you can avoid frustration and master accountability!

Please click on this link! http://www.dentistryiq.com/articles/2013/01/mastering-accountability-by-eliminating-the-myths.html?cq_ck=1358800465747

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January 1, 2013

Ownership Mentality

Filed under: Accountability,Communication,Decision Making,Dental Practice Management,Focus,Goals,Leadership,Performance,Philosophy,Strategy,Success,Team Building,Team Relationships,Uncategorized — Tags: align, attitude, Coaching, communication, dental, Dental Coaching, dental management, dental office, Dental Practice, dental Practice Management, Dental Team Performance, Dentistry, energy, initiative, innovation, Judy Kay, Judy Kay Mausolf, optimism, ownership, passion, performance, purpose, results, show your shine, team, team building — Judy Kay Mausolf @ 9:00 am

We may want to blame our life results on our circumstances or other people. The truth is that our results are OUR RESULTS! We OWN them…because what we believe determines our actions and our action or inaction generates our outcome or results! Adopting an ownership mentality for our results will compel us to see more clearly. When we see clearly we see what can be done to change our outcome! Learn how to adopt an ownership mentality and get the results you want to own!