The Dental Office: Your Professional Presence
Many people are returning to physical-presence work environments following months of dodging COVID-19. (Actually, if you’ve been in dental clinical practice, you probably never left! But anyway…) I’ve recently seen the nervous energy, anxious behaviors and somewhat awkward communications displayed by even highly seasoned professionals. Re-entry isn’t easy!
Whatever your own work situation, if you’re treating patients who are struggling through re-entry, some simple techniques can help both you and them with the transition. Here are some strategies from our proprietary Image Management Formula that might help.
- • Know who you’ll be in front of. Who? Where? How? Why? What are the main types of people/patients you’ll come in contact with? What are you expected to do in the appointment? What does your patient need from you?
- • Don’t go unconscious and let appointment after appointment slide by. Know what your goals are for each patient. Define a strategy for your professional presence to support those goals.
- • Create a presence that shapes credibility, likability and confidence. This will support you internally and make the best impression on others. You never know where opportunities will come from.
- • Be authentic to yourself. People will ultimately see through the façade if someone is trying to fake it. Define and maintain boundaries regarding the formality of your behaviors, modes of communication and dress standards.
- • When in doubt, don’t. If you feel uncertain about how to present your best professional self, trust your gut and/or consider the professional assistance of a coach or consultant.
Finally, take the time to polish your presence. It’s vital to the growth of your career and your practice. For more specific presence strategies and tools for you and your team, download our free, 30-page e-book guide “PRESENCE – Cultivating Your Greatest Asset.”
