Making the decision to sell your practice is a weighty one.  You need to consider your growth goals as well as support needs. MB2 Dental shared an insightful article about what to consider if you want a successful integration into a DSO.  Definitely give it a read. I appreciated their list, but thought it was missing something critical- conflict management resources. There will be bumps and bruises along the way in the transaction.  You want your associate docs and dental team to ...

The new generation of dentists are likely to be introverts. What does that mean for you as you lead a DSO or dental practice? It’s important to understand how ISTJ folks operate because failing to do so will only increase the misunderstandings and drama.  ISTJ stands for introversion, sensing, thinking and judging, according to the Myers Briggs personality assessment. Introversion is the tendency to focus inwardly over external things and to be more reflective, according to Carl ...

Mistreatment as an entrepreneur is a real thing. You can get bullied by clients and manipulated by other business owners. And, it hurts especially if you deeply identify with your business.I was delighted whe Shevvy Mac - MBA - Business Operations Consultant invited me to sit down and discuss how small business owners can deal with bullying.We had a robust, fun conversation you're really going to enjoy. Do come back and share what resonated the most for you! Listen to the episode of Lead Like a ...

A member of the 7% Club.  That’s the percentage of Black women lawyers in the US. For almost 3 decades, I’ve devoted my expertise and knowledge to support employees to successfully navigate the work conflicts and improve their experiences as an organizational Ombuds. I love renovating houses almost as much as discovering new restaurants.

As a small business owner, you’re busy growing your business and serving customers.  Of course, you want and intend to have a positive work environment, but sometimes things get away from you. Your bright, shiny company culture you loved becomes stained and dull before you without attention. Left unchecked, a toxic workplace leads to higher turnover, lower productivity, less trust & collaboration and disengaged employees.  Who wants that? What does a toxic small business ...

Dealing with troublesome coworkers or a difficult boss is tough.  Let me give you 8 suggestions you can put to good use right now to disarm a bully. 1.  Be prepared- ensure the your communication,EQ and negotiation skills are up to date. This means you’ll have the mindset and skills to get a positive outcome.  2.  Listen- Listening well is an art and skill. Listen to what’s said and also what isn’t expressed. Think about why the speaker chose certain ...

Sue them! That’s typically the advice given by family and friends who hear you talk about the bullying and mistreatment you get at work. Does that sound familiar? It’s heart-felt advice from people who love and want to protect you from harm.  But, it’s not the best first solution.  New clients sometimes select me because hope legal analysis comes with the Ombuds work (for the record, I don’t give legal advice). Should I take legal action comes up in the ...

You are a house. 🏡 Let’s imagine what that looks like. There’s the sidewalk in front of your lawn. Then, the stairs that lead to your porch where your front door stands. All of this exists outside of your house. Inside, is your foyer, the space before you enter the home. The living room, a public space, is next followed by the dining room. Your kitchen, the heart of your home, is in the back. Sometimes it’s enclosed and private, other times the kitchen is open and public. ...

I love the idea of creating more safe spaces for Black women. We do have to protect ourselves. Over my three decades of service as an Ombuds, I realized that more Black women who were exhausted from the struggle are visiting me for comfort, support and strategies to move forward. I strongly believe that most businesses should provide an Ombuds for their employees and I’m working to develop more programs. But that’s gonna a a minute and people are suffering now. Very shortly, I will ...

Nobody likes micromanaging or being condescended to, but you don't have to get angry. Get conflict ready instead!