Do's and don'ts for handling bad days

Dentists have bad days sometimes. In fact, most people think of 2020 as one continuous bad day. However, regardless of the circumstances, you must exercise good self-control at the office, keeping negative feelings to yourself. Otherwise, the experience of everyone at the practice -- patients as well as staff -- will be less pleasant.

Think about something positive. It's only human to have bad days, moodiness, or doubts. However, you need to insulate patients from such negativity. Try this: Just before interacting with patients, think about your favorite music, vacation spot, loved one, food, etc. You will experience genuine positive feelings, and patients will pick up on it.

Don't forget to maintain composure. There will be the occasional bad day, difficult patient, wrecked schedule, or sick staff member -- all of which increase stress. In the face of adversity, remain calm. Your fellow team members are counting on you to handle the situation. A calm demeanor allows you to respond appropriately to stressful situations.

Dr. Roger P. Levin is CEO of Levin Group, a leading practice management and marketing consulting firm. To contact him or to join the 40,000 dental professionals who receive his Practice Production Tip of the Day, visit LevinGroup.com or email [email protected].

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