In today’s fast-paced and demanding work environment, dental professionals often find themselves susceptible to burnout.

As a dental consultant/leadership coach, I see this happening every single day. The accumulation of responsibilities when running a business can take a toll on your well-being and job satisfaction.

There are high expectations to produce clinically, and pressures to keep pace with the ever-evolving challenges in the dental industry. All of this makes your job extremely stressful. 

However, by recognizing that there are signs of burnout and beginning to implement strategies to adapt, cope, and move forward; dentists and practice owners can manage their hardships, regain a sense of fulfillment and balance in their professional lives and personal lives.

• In a Deloitte survey, 56% of workers say that their managers did not  encourage conversations addressing burnout in the office. 
• 77% say they have experienced employee burnout at their current job, with more than half citing more than just one occurrence. 
• In another survey done by a published writer on the topic shared; Millennials are the most burned-out generation, with 59% experiencing some symptoms of burnout.

Money doesn’t cure burnout 

There is only a 6% difference in burnout rates between employees who earn $100,000 vs $30,000.  In contrast, by fostering a supportive work culture, setting realistic expectations, empowering employees, encouraging open communication, and recognizing achievements, leaders can prevent burnout and create an environment that enhances employee well-being and engagement.

Now that we have established that burnout is a real thing, recognizing and adapting is the key to moving forward.

First Steps to Identifying Burnout

The first step in addressing burnout is to simply acknowledge its happening and understand the toll or impact it has been taking on your mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Dentists need to look out for signs in themselves as well as their employees. Things to look out for include:

• Chronic fatigue 
• Decreased motivation 
• Cynicism
• Reduced productivity

Once burnout is recognized, it is crucial to have a conversation with someone about it. Put a plan of action in place to counteract the problems causing burnout.

Creating A Work-life balance

The relentless pace of the modern work environment can contribute to burnout. To manage this, there are strategies to help you maintain a healthy work-life balance. This includes:

• set or reset realistic expectations 
• delegate tasks
• establish clear boundaries – between work & personal life. 

These things can help mitigate the negative impact of keeping pace with professional demands.

Generating A Corporate Culture

One thing I have always noticed as a common factor taking place in the dental industry is… practice owners just do not do enough with their teams to foster better relationships.

As a consultant, I am currently working with over 70 dentists and their businesses. I have personally witnessed how polarizing doctors can be when managing their teams. Some do pretty much nothing to foster those relationships with their team yet expect amazing camaraderie and stellar employee engagement. 

And of the other hand some go in the opposite extreme, sparing no expense in taking care of their team members. But unfortunately, the ones who overdo employee involvement tend to get taken advantage of. On the other hand, those who do nothing are constantly upset with team members for not having an ownership or personal accountability mentality. I think there needs to be a healthy balance!

It is very important to incorporate team-building activities and to create loyalty which helps reduce burnout for dental professionals. A great article published by Gusto provides a fun list of activities to foster a more engaging team environment. It’s definitely worth trying out, sharing, or passing along.

How to Personally Cope with Burnout

Coping with burnout requires a holistic approach that addresses both the professional and personal aspects. Mid-career professionals can adopt various strategies to manage stress and promote well-being. Regular exercise, mindfulness practices, and actively engaging in hobbies or activities that bring joy and relaxation can help alleviate burnout symptoms. Seeking support from friends, family, or professional networks. Considering therapy or personal coaching can provide valuable guidance and perspective during challenging times.

Moving Forward from Burnout and Seeking Growth

Burnout for dental professionals often arises from a sense of stagnation or lack of fulfillment in one’s career. To move forward, dental professionals should evaluate their personal and professional goals and aspirations. This may involve seeking new challenges, acquiring new skills and qualifications, or exploring alternative paths. Engaging in continuous learning and professional development can reignite passion (or hiring a consultant ha!) and open doors to new opportunities, promoting personal and career growth. Not to mention there is also a social aspect to attending live educational events. We hosts live in-person events that offer AGD approved CE to doctors throughout out the year. These CE events are great ways to socialize and learn about new industry trends and skills.   

NEXT LEVEL CONSULTANTS helps dentists get into practice ownership too. Doctors who work with us often see ownership as an opportunity to continue their personal development, challenging themselves personally and professionally.

However, it is important to recognize that ownership entails a variety of unique challenges that require a lot of preparation. Not everyone is suited to be a business owner. Nevertheless, over the past decade, I have guided hundreds of doctors through the process helping them advance their professional career goals.

Conclusion

Burnout hinders growth and also tears people or relationships apart. As a professional business coach coming from the corporate world, I have both witnessed and experienced burnout myself.

I also see how dentists in private practice are constantly pushed to produce without much personal fulfillment, emotionally or monetarily. I see first hand how docs become dental practice owners, but can’t quite figure out how to create the best systems and foster a collaborative team in a healthy work environment.

With all of that said, there is a solution! Hopefully working with me and my team at NEXT LEVEL CONSULTANTS and with the help of this article you will gain some insights on how to move forward past the roadblocks holding you back and burning you out. 

NEXT LEVEL CONSULTANTS’ works with dental practice owners all over the country, encouraging them and their team to achieve their goals all while having a more balanced and healthy environment. We also help practices boost their revenues by incorporating systems that make a difference. By working with us and putting these systems in place, doctors invest in their team’s well-being as well as their own personal well-being; making the practice much more profitable and pleasurable to work in every day.