Surprised

While networking at the fantastic Gumption Centres in Bradford http://www.gumptioncentres.co.uk I was asked the usual questions relating to dentist and the fear associated with making a visit. I was surprised in fact amazed that some of the rather intelligent looking and Im sure forward thinking folk who were there, felt it was more cost effective to visit their dentist when there was a problem, rather than visit regularly and prevent problems.

Wow.

Quite worry, this is the case, go regularly to your Dentist, if you have a fear of going find one that specialises in dealing with Nervous patients, yeah they do exist.

Decisions Decisions, oh I’m not sure.

I have been let down recently by a couple of decisions.

Made by other, these decisions have been extremely costly.

The thing that makes it worse is that they were all made as, secondary decisions, ‘on second thoughts….. ‘ that type of thing. Yesterday it was a yes and today, I’m afraid its a no.

One client said they always new it was the wrong decision and only once it was made did they ‘really’ know it was the wrong decision. Not sure about the logic here and yes it makes the blood boil.

I am obviously disappointed, however there is a lesson. Nothing is agreed unless it is signed, sealed and money in the bank.

Also, nothing is agreed till the customer is happy.

In both cases, Ive smiled and accepted the decisions, knowing we will get it right and this means for me and for them.

That 10%

Everyone tries at what they do. Its impossible not to, I would suggest only those who are totally disinterested dont and lets be fair they don’t stick around for long.

So if everyone tries and generally gets on with things, it does come down to the amount of effort put into what we are doing.

Operating at 100%, 100% of the time is very difficult, impossible perhaps.

I would suggest, definitely impossible, if it requires a human interaction.

This is why focusing on the last 10% is so important.

How many decisions made by you, your customers and suppliers, are without competition or choice. Not many. There are always ‘Pros and Cons’ or ‘head and heart’ perhaps some are 50 : 50.

It wont be that difficult to stay 10% longer, focus 10% harder or implement 10% more precisely, however that will make the difference and if decisions are 50 : 50 that might just give you an edge!

Hollywood Smiles

I was considering the names of some dental practices in the surrounding area. I am surprised at how many are called:

- The Smile Studio
- White Teeth Clinic
- Smile Clinic

A lot of thought should be paid to the name of the practice, fact is the name says so much about the practice, its people and the work done there.

So when picking a name practices should consider what the practice is about. If its only about bright white smiles then perhaps ‘Hollywood Smiles’ and these other names work. I aren’t saying they don’t. However its all a little obvious and undermining to what the Dental Practice does.

Dental practices, educate patients, advise, support and implement. They transform the lives of those who visit, this is not with just a new bright smile. Dental Practices are part of the community, dare I say it they are part of the social fabric of a community.

Get the name right is hard work, often one will simply pop into your head, blindsiding you, its simple it’s the right name.

But if you are going to think about it, don’t do yourself or your practice an injustice.

Practice are so much more than just bright smiles.

Changing Careers

Is it really the time to be changing careers?

Speaking to a friend who has just change jobs, same industry, same role… more money.

We were laughing about the fact that for the past 8 years he has been doing the same old thing. Salary has doubled and work load has gotten easier, although he would never admit this to his bosses, ultimately the same thing.

I was saying he should really of changed direction altogether, done something exciting, something he always wanted to do. Lap dancing, I said, he dismissed this out of hand and pointed out he didn’t have the moves.

He had always wanted to be a pilot and had looked into doing it.

£100,000 to be a pilot.

Hmmm, something different then.

No, he’s going to stick with what he doing.

Position Vacant

 

A list of reason why you should consider using a specialist Dental Recruitment agency to  fill your vacany?

1. Recruiting the right staff takes time and effort, the simple tasks of filtering applications and fielding phone calls takes existing team members away from their day jobs.

2. A recruitment agency has its own pool of candidates who may not read the paper on the day your job advert is published. Agencies have relationships with passive job seekers who are often very good and loyal employees waiting for the right opportunity as apposed to anything that’s available.

3. Recruitment Consultants have more experience of interviewing and screening candidates and get more thorough and comprehensive understanding of expectations from clients and candidates.

4. You only pay if the agency is successful.

5. Specialist recruiters interact with a range of characters and business types within their chose industry and as such have a great awareness of opportunities and those who will be the most suitable.

6. Don’t give away your competitive edge by undertaking your own recruiting, you offer your competitors insight into your company’s direction and success.

7. Recruitment agencies can also offer support and advice on salaries, benefits, market trends and availability.

8. Recruitment agencies can work far quicker than traditional forms of recruitment. Placements have been known to be done in a week. This can be the period taken waiting for the advert to be put in the paper.

Really Enjoy These Videos About Change.

Public vs Private

When I worked in the public sector the consistent issue was that the wrong information was far worse than no information. Whether it was publication for the press or a spread sheet documenting archived ISO documents, we had to omit data, rather than get it wrong.

Recently I was chatting to my sister and mother who were discussing the pressures of their work. Both have successful careers within the NHS. I listened to them talk. Both are incredible women and demonstrate great ability, there subject for discussion was emails. My sister had 3000 in her inbox and my Mum commented that she had recently spent half a days deleting unnecessary messages but still had more than she could remember.

3000 emails.

The private sector is different. Here the motto is … have a go, what’s the worse that could happen?

You see in the private sector, we see more need in what’s happening tomorrow, than what happened yesterday. Maintaining documents for reference is soon out stripped by the demands of customers, which are ever changing.

The Sum of all Parts

I always remember the film ‘as good as it gets’ and the lead lady turns to Jack Nicolson and tell him life is not the sum of all parts. It is a great line and I often think of it when in certain situations, indeed when in business dealings.

The need for ROI and added value is often paramount but some times, on occasions, the results are unknown and as such the quantifiables are un predictable and hence I consider the statement.

Sometimes its not worth it and some times it is. What you will always know, is that you had a go and sometimes the learning is the reward.

First Impressions

The old, popular and often true statement that you don’t get a second chance to make a good first impression is often used when describing a poor experience of meeting someone for the first time.

In the world of work many interviews and meetings are hinged on that first impression. The hand shake, the eye contact, the suit and even the car driven to the appointment, all significant to the first impression. (Before you say a car has nothing to do with it, if someone turns up in a golf buggy, they are either a lost golf professional or Welsh Rugby player.)

As we leave the unpleasantness of 2009 and head into, the even less chartered territory of 2010, we must give the First Impression even more care.  The first impression is incredible important and we must make the most of that first opportunity, whether to impress, set the scene or take control, however always remember its a two way affair and more important is to listen to what the other party has to say and offer.

 In context of interviews, as this is our main source of business, it’s been tough for many, candidates and business. Candidates are faced with over subscribed jobs and business have budgets to maintain and mistakes can be costly.

 Be patient and be thorough.