Linda Steeves, RDH, BS

Author Jonah Lehrer's "Imagine: How Creativity Works" breaks down ways staff members can contribute creative ideas, lending their imaginations to a thriving dental practice.

 with your dental practice in mind. The concepts and ideas conveyed through each book can easily translate into your dental practice, among your staff and even your patients.

This month's book, "Imagine: How Creativity Works" by Jonah Lehrer, is reviewed by Linda Steeves, RDH.

 consultant, coach and mentor. Steeves works as a clinical hygienist and also assists dental offices and dental hygienists to achieve a higher potential.

Dental practices flourish when new, creative ideas are introduced and implemented. These creative ideas happen when one of the most important mental talents, the ability to imagine what has never existed, is used. The question becomes, how do we encourage these creative ideas to surface? The author states that an important key to creativity becomes the environment in which the staff of a business is placed when exploring new ideas. The environment needs to permit the light bulbs to go off in the heads of staff members, allowing imagination to begin. This obviously supports the premise of dental staff retreats or at the very least, lengthy staff meetings away from the usual work environment. When we are out of our comfortable environment, we can brainstorm and exchange exciting possibilities. Often times, we expect dynamic ideas to be thought up during average staff meetings, only to be disappointed by discussing usual circumstances.

Spontaneity is an extremely valuable source of creativity. Allowing our staff to risk embarrassment, ask silly questions and leave the safety of our expertise will ultimately lead to “moments of insight." These moments will allow us to transform mental blocks into breakthroughs and creative ideas to transform our businesses. Lehrer states that one of the most surprising ways to cultivate this creativity is through travel. When physically we are near to the source of a problem or mental block of creativity, our thoughts are automatically constricted. The ideas that we suppressed in our usual environment are allowed to surface when we escape from the place we spend most of our time. Meetings that are held in our office environment generally focus on the facts at hand and inhibit imagination.  

This book, "Imagine: How Creativity Works," also praises the power of a group. Not necessarily is collaboration of people as important to a group, but rather sharing our ideas to conquer seemingly impossible problems or developing new ideas. Lehrer stated, “We can all work together or fail alone." Clearly, it becomes the power of conversations between people that yield more new ideas.

For example, when Steve Jobs was with Pixar, he hosted several brainstorming retreats. He also physically configured the interior design of the Pixar offices so that people would be forced to have conversations and thus be more creative. Many other companies have followed this model. I am sure you can now see that one of the important places in any office is the break room so ideas can be exchanged.

"Imagine: How Creativity Works" explores how creativity and innovation in a business are incorporated to yield profitable success. Our brains are the place where imagination begins. Think of those times of creative thoughts you may have had during a warm shower or simply day dreaming. This is the natural state of creativity, however the power of creativity emerges in the coming together of people with those ideas. The author cites several business examples representing times when imagination and creativity were encouraged and developed as a group. Consequently, those businesses did soar to new heights. Dental practices could restructure and encourage creativity and imagination. Just imagine the chance of soaring to new heights and putting the excitement back into our practices.

Imagination is too important to be ignored. If your interest has piqued about how your business can encourage creativity and how this can impact your dental practice, then you may want to consider reading this book. "Imagine" provides some interesting thoughts on creativity and group brainstorming. We all should think out of the box at times and share those thoughts and ideas with others.

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October Book Review: Cultivating creativity among your dental team

DPR editors have compiled a list of must-read books with your dental practice in mind. The concepts and ideas conveyed through each book can easily translate into your 

, among your staff and even your patients.

This month's book review features "Organize Your Mind, Organize Your Life" by Paul Hammerness, MD and Margaret Moore.

Are you multi-tasking in your dental practice every day? Are your team members multi-tasking or are you asking that of them? Are you and the other team members feeling stressed? The authors of "Organize your mind, Organize" your life present a strong argument that you should not multi-task and offer a step- by-step process to replace multi-tasking with organization and choices. This organization starts with your mind and overflows to your life. It has been postulated that this replacement will be incredibly more effective and you will ultimately be happier and less stressed.

The concept of multi-tasking, which is going in three or more different directions at one time, is obsolete for a trained organized mind. Most of us find it a common practice to attempt to function in this manner. Multi-tasking often leads to not completing any project well or timely. It was stated that 40% of Americans categorize themselves as disorganized and 21% have missed vital work deadlines.

June Book Review: How to use power listening to understand and treat your patients

This book proposes a systematic plan and outline to provide steps individuals may take to enhance not only their professional lives but personal lives as well.

A collaboration between Dr. Paul Hammerness, MD and Margaret Moore led to the formation of a methodical outlined process to organize our thoughts. This process they refer to as “top-down organization" starts with our brain. Once we are aware of our thoughts, emotions and projects, we can begin to eliminate ineffective multi-tasking that competes for our attention and reduces our focus. It was asserted that we need to develop strategic brain skills. These skills can be learned, mastered and maintained. There are six principles outlined in this book to expand brain skills, which they refer to as “Rules of Order." These rules will guide us in our journey for organization. Each rule is thoroughly examined in many chapters.

. We must control or at the very least recognize our emotions. In doing so, we can then put them aside and allow greater focus for the task at hand.

The actual process of paying attention is remarkably involved. We must pay attention to the moment at hand and stay focused for a greater length of time.

Our developed organized mind must be able to stop a thought or action. This will allow us to complete our project or idea.

. When we develop our ability to retain and manipulate the information and ideas we have gained, we will have an increased organized day.

 In striving to be focused, we must be flexible to process and weigh competing choices for our attention, so that we may consciously move to another task.

. This last rule puts all the previous rules of order together.

Right from the start of "Organize your mind, Organize your life," the authors passionately describe the rules of what to do to become better organized and continued on to lay a foundation of how to do it. The format is not only outlining the brain science of organization but also allows Coach Meg (Margaret Moore) to impart her coaching skills to us as a concrete plan in this journey for organization. She was able to present several examples of her past clients on their challenges for organization in their particular lives, which provided an insight to our possibilities. These examples also let us see that many other people have these challenges and progress can be made.

May Book Review: QUIET: The Power of introverts in a world that can't stop talking 

Ultimately when we attain an organized mind and thoughts we will gain an organized life of choice.  This life will have an increased sense of purpose where we make good decisions and sound choices. Our organized mind will allow us to be fully engaged in our work life in the dental office, which continues on to our personal life. We can learn to tune out the distractions, conquer the chaos and have a life of choice. Upon embracing some of the concepts provided, the entire dental staff may become enormously focused and task driven, our patients will appreciate the special attention to detail and in the end we will all have a happier work day and home life.

Linda Steeves has 30 years of experience, knowledge and expertise as a dental hygienist, facilitator and consultant. She graduated from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with a degree in Dental Hygiene and Biology, and has participated in extensive post graduate clinical and practice management education.

Linda’s passion and commitment for dentistry spans clinical dentistry, public health, and practice and business management. Linda has a proven track record of effectively instilling this passion in others. This contributes to her success in establishing and implementing successful periodontal protocols and therapies, and merging her talents in clinical dentistry and the behavioral sciences.

DPR editors have compiled a list of must-read books with your dental practice in mind. The concepts and ideas conveyed through each book can easily translate into your dental practice, among your staff and even your patients.  

July Book Review: 6 steps to replace multi-tasking with organization

DPR editors have compiled a list of must-read books with your 

 goals in mind. The concepts and ideas conveyed through each book can easily translate into your 

Power Listening has been slated as a business source for developing and refining our listening skills which will, in turn, transform the organizational culture in a business. This culture will ultimately increase productivity, profitability and satisfaction. Ferrari systematically lays out a direction and action plan for power listening. Listening is likely the most powerful tool at our disposal in work and life. The goal of power listening is asking the right questions, remaining quiet so that you can listen carefully to the answers and being able to move from discussion to action.

Power listening skills can be learned, practiced and improved. First and foremost, you must skillfully learn to be quiet. The author believes in the 80/20 rule, which is applicable to many facets in life. He feels you need to be quiet 80% of the time and listen, so that you can gather information. Learning to be 

 is not an easy task, but to acquire the information we need to move ahead or acquire consensus, it is imperative. At times most of us are so eager to move the conversation forward, that we start interrupting. He suggests that when we feel the need to speak or interrupt, we should instead pose questions.

May Book Review: QUIET: The Power of Introverts In a World That Can't Stop Talking

The Power of Habit: Why we do what we do in life and business

To truly listen, we need to become the “Master of Questions." This mastery involves using questions to reframe the conversation to learn more and challenge our assumptions. Examples may include, “How do we know that? Why do we think that? Can we prove that?” With questions, we gain knowledge and information. Clayton Christensen, a Harvard business professor, stated “the most important skill to practice is questioning and questioning is the first pre requisite for good listening." We should never stop asking why and why not.

Formulating in our minds the organizational structure of a dental practice, it is obvious how acquiring power listening skills, not only by the dentist/owner but also by involved team members, will catapult the drive, profitability and understanding of the business. This will open doors to creativity and problem solving by including and listening to ideas. The business will profit from the enhancement and inclusion of ideas and the patients will profit from a cohesive team that understands their concerns. I humbly suggest the dental office team start practicing these listening skills that are so methodically mapped out in this book. Ferrari did state that you should practice one step at a time in power listening and then practice over and over again.

Consider now, once power listening skills have been put in place, and continually practiced, the enormous impact this will have on treatment consultations, treatment acceptance and patient trust.  Our enhanced power listening skills will increase our patient’s ability to make positive judgments and decisions regarding their oral health. Imagine a new found referral base and your office has become known as one who really listens to their patients concerns. Upon reading, and re- reading this book, a step by step framework has been structured for you. You may perhaps call it, Power Listening 101.

In our communications, we reveal something about who we are, how we think, what we feel and what we think is important. To consider a dental environment that encourages those communications, not only from a staff perspective but a 

, will certainly set your practice well above the curve in business potential, caring and understanding. As you read Ferrari’s book, you will understand his Monday To-Do-List: 

1. Keep quiet. 2. Challenge assumptions. 3. Focus on what you need to know. 4. Increase your tolerance for ambiguity and uncertainty. 5. Sort incoming information to remember.  6. Work your memory to gain insight. 7 Know when to pull the trigger to move from debate to action. As you work on this to-do list for listening skills, your communication throughout your work and home life will become more profound.

So, why not try it? Challenge yourself and your team to enhance the quality of your work environment, the quality of your communication with your patients and ultimately improve the quality of your patient’s health.  Power Listening by Bernard T. Ferrari will give you some ground lessons.

DPR editors have compiled a list of must-read books with your dental practice's management goals in mind. The concepts and ideas conveyed through each book can easily translate into your dental practice, among your staff and even your patients.

Susan Cain is a former corporate lawyer and negotiations consultant. She's also a self-described introvert. Cain argues that we design our schools, workplaces, and religious institutions for extroverts, and that this bias creates a waste of talent, energy, and happiness.

QUIET: The Power of Introverts In a World That Won't Stop Talking

 lays out a positive framework of introverts and extroverts. The defining factor becomes how each particular group reacts to stimulation and how they “re-charge their battery." Introverts prefer and are drawn to an inner world of thought and re-charge by being alone. They tend to be innovative and creative. This is not to say they cannot place themselves in environments with many people and noise. When introverts have, for whatever reason, been in an environment of the extrovert reality, they need then to spend time alone to once again feel like themselves.

Oppositely, extroverts prefer action to contemplation. They can spend time in thought, but soon the need the stimulation of people, activity and noise. Extroverts tackle assignments quickly and make fast decisions. These personalities favor quick decisions, even at the risk of being wrong. Working well in teams and socializing in groups are high traits, according to Cain.

“There's zero correlation between being the best talker and having the best ideas.” -- Susan Cain

It has been reported that dentistry, specifically dentists, is one of the professions that attract introverts. Keep in mind that it has been also reported that one third to one half of Americans are introverts, meaning every two or three people you know are introverts. The chance that the dentist involved in a particular dental practice is an introvert becomes substantial. Being able to appropriately identify this trait in a dental practice would enhance the emotional balance and ultimately the profitability of the business.

Past history has shown us that extroverts were applauded and excelled, whereas introverts were left behind. In the late 1940s, Paul Black of the Harvard School of Business suggested that Harvard should reject the “sensitive, neurotic type of the intellectually over stimulated in favor of the boys of the healthy extrovert kind." Everyone was encouraged to develop an extroverted personality and move away from their true selves. Introverts such as Charles Schwab, Bill Gates, Rosa Parks and Steve Wozniak, defied the odds of the Harvard Business School, The leaders of effective CEO’s, thought leaders and visionaries are filled with introverts. 

The Power of Habit: Why we do what we do in life and business 

So assuming again the dentist within a dental practice is most likely an introvert, we must applaud them and allow them the individual space and quiet to be innovative and creative. Other staff may or may not be introverts. Not only should the balance between personalities be there, but an understanding and respect for the attributes that the introverts possess. It has been said by Adam Grant, a professor at the Wharton School of Management, that "extroverted leaders enhance group performance when employees are passive, but introverted leaders are more effective with proactive employees." It is clear this could describe a dental practice surrounded by proactive employees.  These introverted leaders, such as dentists, have an inclination to 

 and lack interest in dominating social situations.

A recent reader comment in response to the article 

 touched on the importance of listening, and said it best: "Be interested, not interesting."

It is clear now that carefully assembling individuals for the team of the dental practice, with consideration to the strengths of introversion and extroversion, will make a positive impact. The probability for the practice to work in a cohesive manner, while being profitable, is excellent. Susan Cain supports the extrovert personality, while allowing the introverts to be recognized as leaders.  She applauds their time spent in thought. The question she asks of us is how do you react to environmental stimulation? Putting yourself in the zone of stimulation that is best for you, allows your true self to emerge. Understanding the differences in introversion or extroversion stimulation allows balance in our work and personal lives. Extroverts may be seeing “What is”, while introverts are asking “What if."

This book, written by an introvert, suggests utilizing this publication to improve your relationships with others. At its core, it stresses you are entitled to be yourself. Cain states that “if you are not an introvert yourself, you are surely raising, managing, married to or coupled with one”. I recommend this book as another exploration of aspects of relationships. It most likely could be a great addition to discussion in a 

DPR editors have compiled a list of must-read books with your dental practice's management goals in mind. The concepts and ideas conveyed through each book can easily translate into your dental practice, among your staff and even your patients. Linda Steeves is a HygieneFusion consultant, coach and mentor. Steeves works as a clinical hygienist and also assists dental offices and dental hygienists to achieve a higher potential.