Linda Drevenstedt, President

1. Be Honest: Say what is true, honorable and courteous to all team members.  If you don't agree, say what you believe to be true in the situation with courtesy and compassion.

2. Communicate directly to the one who can do something.  Do not communicate behind backs.  When you take issue with another person's behavior, dress, way they raise their kids, etc.,  behind their back with another team member, you create a devious triangle of gossip that cuts your ability to be a full team member with that person and you negatively influence the person you share the comments with.  Communicate to the person you have an issue with or keep it under your hat.

3. Listen with an open mind and heart.  Having a point of view is important.  But, when your point of view is the ONLY one you can tolerate or support, then teamwork has left the practice.  People feel valued when you can listen without interruption, judgment or "attitude."

4. Be there for others.  Keep your head up and look around the whole practice, not just your area, to see if someone needs help.  Everyone has a better day when there is an overall sense of cooperation and helpfulness.

5. Learn to handle conflict.  Recently I heard on a business CD that "conflict" is two people each trying to occupy the VICTIM position.  Take a deep breath and think of a way to approach the one with whom you have a conflict and offer a solution that can move you both forward in a positive step.  Burying your head in the sand is not a help either.  Expressing your views or feelings is important when done with respect for another's feelings and views.  Avoiding communication to avoid conflict buries feelings that can grow and can erupt at an inappropriate time or place later.

6.  Create written agreements among team members and use them to keep the team "ON POINT."  Here are some samples: I agree to show up on time and ready to work each day. I agree to be prepared, attend on time, and listen to others at our Morning Huddle.

7. Help others look GOOD.  Praise and appreciation are the vitamins that grow teamwork.  Look for something to appreciate or praise each day with each person and you will be surprised at the energy lift everyone will feel.

8. Admit your mistakes.  Humans are NOT PERFECT! In dentistry, there seems to be a belief that we all should be.  Learn to own up to and admit your mistakes, and then LEARN the lesson and don't repeat the mistake.  Excellent teams learn from mistakes and solve their problems.

9. Avoid the blame game.  Blaming or insisting that a problem was someone else's fault, quickly pointing a finger or making excuses takes away your own power to be a problem solver.  Taking responsibility for your contribution in the situation gets the problem solving process started.  Try starting the conversation with, "I wanted to blame you for this, but I see I have a part in it also.  Let's see if we can solve this together."

10. Let others get competent.  In dentistry we have a lot of people who OVER-take responsibility for their area, tasks, jobs.  If you are doing someone else's job because you think you can do it better, faster, you have no time to train them or other reasons - STOP IT now.  Create a plan to help the other person become competent.  If they cannot, then it is time to determine the division of labor for that area and move the person out of the practice or redesign the job duties.

11. Ask for help.  I often have team members tell me that no one ever helps them.  They will play "Poor pitiful me, no one helps." Yet, when asked if they need help, they say "No."  Asking for help does not mean you can't do your job.  Schedule changes, things that don't go the way you expect, patients that are late, etc., create team stress.  Learn to ask for help when you need it.

12.  Be open to feedback.  Being defensive when someone gives you feedback only keeps you from getting vital information for your personal and professional growth.   Consider feedback "The Breakfast of Champions."  All great pros have coaches who give them feedback.  No one on the team should be immune to others.

Develop these twelve Power Boosters that foster and support more productive behavior and higher levels of team work and you will increase trust and enable each person to grow their ability to be a TEAMWORK Booster.

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