796: Annual Review 911: It’s Time for Change – Heather Crockett

The Best Practices Show with Kirk Behrendt

Who are the most important people in your practice? If you said your patients, listen to this episode! Kirk Behrendt brings back Heather Crockett, one of ACT’s amazing coaches, to explain why your team comes first — not your patients. Start putting your energy where it matters most! To learn how to take care of your team and transform your practice, listen to Episode 796 of The Best Practices Show!

Learn More About Heather:

• Send Heather an email: [e-mail]
• Join Heather on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heather.r.crockett
• Follow Heather on ACT’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/actdental
• Send Gina an email: [e-mail]

More Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life:

• Subscribe to The Best Practices Show: https://the-best-practices-show.captivate.fm/listen
• Join The Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpa
• Join ACT’s To The Top Study Club: https://www.actdental.com/ttt
• See the ACT Dental/BPA Live Event Schedule: https://www.actdental.com/event
• Get The Best Practices Magazine for free: https://www.actdental.com/magazine
• Please leave us a review on the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-best-practices-show-with-kirk-behrendt/id1223838218

Episode Resources:

• Watch the video version of Episode 796: https://www.youtube.com/@actdental/videos
• Watch Episode 773: Consistency is King with Dr. Kevin Groth: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIDVG3QoPJ4
• Download ACT’s Check-In Agenda: https://23476641.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/23476641/Check%20In%20Agenda.pdf

Main Takeaways:

• Check-ins are the key to trust.
• A flyby is not a check-in! Put aside time to do it.
• Empower your team. Have them schedule and lead check-ins.
• Always schedule the next check-in before starting the current one.
• Be present, flex your active listening muscles, and ask good questions.
• Make sure your compensation conversations are separate from check-ins.
• Emphasize to your team how important they are, and how important check-ins are.

Snippets:

0:00 Introduction.

2:18 Why the check-in is important for your practice.

8:12 Why annual reviews are ineffective.

11:28 Check-ins and annual reviews, explained.

15:08 Best practices for check-ins.

22:17 The system for check-ins.

27:17 Earn your team’s trust and respect.

29:10 Establish an order for priorities.

32:32 Emphasize to your team that they are important.

34:05 Check-ins are great for accountability.

35:50 When to have the compensation conversation.

37:09 Flybys are not check-ins.

40:07 Final takeaways.

Heather Crockett Bio:

Heather Crockett is a Lead Practice Coach who finds joy in not only improving practices but improving the lives of those she coaches as well. With over 20 years of combined experience in assisting, office management, and clinical dental hygiene, her awareness supports many aspects of the practice setting.

Heather received her dental hygiene degree from the Utah College of Dental Hygiene in 2008. Networking in the dental community comes easy to her, and she loves to connect with like-minded colleagues on social media. Heather enjoys both attending and presenting continuing education to expand her knowledge and learn from her friends and colleagues.

She enjoys hanging out with her husband, three sons, and their dog, Moki, scrolling through social media, watching football, and traveling.