One of the most important aspects of any successful dental practice is the support team. You might be the most technically skilled dentist in your area, but your team could be the deciding factor in whether your patients stay or leave. Assembling the right team can make all the difference when growing your practice.

At a time when social media and word-of-mouth recommendations are the preferred methods of finding a dentist, the impression your practice leaves is more influential than ever. While dental care is your distinct service, the patient experience should be regarded with equal significance in terms of your value proposition.

Here are a couple ideas to think about when selecting and training team members in your practice.

Hiring and developing talent is vital to attracting a community of people who share the same values. Define what you need and take time to detail each position. Set the example by making kindness and customer service a priority. And while the leader sets the example, your company culture should be built by all employees.

The value statement is critical in helping you screen potential candidates, or even current team members who are not on board with your vision. Make sure it’s posted and regularly reviewed so that employees understand implicitly how their contributions impact your practice. Once you complete your TVP, review it annually to ensure that it still accurately reflects your practice and decide whether changes need to be made.

Set your standards high when hiring new talent and evaluating current employees. Build your team around core values that set the company culture. One of the great benefits of working with a high performing dental team is how successful team members inspire their peers to achieve their potential. In turn, this standard of excellence attracts other high-performing personalities to the practice while keeping patients satisfied with the level of care they are receiving.

A critical aspect of any dental practice is the training process. This includes everything from advancing the team’s knowledge of the latest medical techniques to coaching them on interpersonal skills and customer service. Think about your long-term goals and invest in your team so you minimize chances of a revolving-door staff. Patients want to feel comfortable when visiting the dentist and constantly changing faces in the office makes it difficult to form a lasting connection.

Caring for people and their well-being is at the heart of dentistry. Exceed your patients’ expectations by building high-performing teams who deliver an experience that makes a trip to your office helpful, beneficial, and enjoyable.