BY Rick Workman, DMD
Many people share the belief that success brings happiness. We need to reach certain achievements and milestones to reach a certain level of happiness. If we graduate with the highest honors, land the perfect job, get married, buy our dream home, and start a family, happiness will automatically follow. But author Shawn Achor suggests it's the other way around.
In his book, "The Happiness Advantage," Achor explains that success is actually a product of our happiness. Through years of research in science, psychology, and business management, Achor has found that being positive gives us the energy, motivation, and creativity needed to find success. Positive thinking helps us succeed in school, get the big promotion, and build meaningful relationships.
Many dentists have committed to the common "success brings happiness" philosophy. They believe that if they learn new techniques, integrate the latest technology, develop a strong team built on trust, and create the most comfortable environment possible for patients, they will be happy. But happiness shouldn't be an eventual goal we're trying to work toward. It should be present in our minds each day. If you adopt an optimistic outlook and attitude every time you walk into your practice, you can accomplish great things personally and professionally, all while leading a more satisfying life. Instead of thinking, "I need to accomplish this to become positive and happy," think of it as, "If I develop an ongoing positive mentality, I can accomplish this, that, and more than I imagined."
Achor outlines several principles to use that are "specific, actionable, and proven patterns that predict success and achievement." Here are some ways his principles can be applied to your office:
• The Tetris effect - In order to succeed in the game Tetris, players must continually look for chances to fit the puzzle pieces together to prevent them from piling up. Likewise, I'm sure you have experienced problems piling up in your office. Constantly looking for new opportunities in your practice to enhance patient care and communication will increase your positive energy and prevent stressful problems from piling up.
• Falling up - Daily problems are unavoidable. No matter what, negative events will happen, tempting us to become frustrated and deflated. But you can choose how to respond to these problems. Instead of falling down, you should fall up. In other words, look for the best upward path from these negative events and determine ways they can make you stronger. Dwelling on a mistake or failure will not help you move past it.
• Social investment - Continually maintaining a positive mindset completely on your own can be difficult, especially if you are a solo dentist. Remember that you are not alone. When facing day-to-day struggles, surround yourself with the support of friends, family, and team members to help you confront these challenges.
• Group gratitude - Each day, share three things with your team that you are grateful for. Have them share what they are grateful for as well. If you commit to this, you will form a habit that continually inspires positivity and brings your team closer together.
We all seek to be the most successful dentists we can be, many times creating heavy workloads, negativity, and stress along the way. But with positive thinking, you can experience the happiness that fuels success. As Achor states, "Our brains are literally hardwired to perform at their best not when they are negative or even neutral, but when they are positive."
Rick Workman, DMD, is founder and chief executive officer of Heartland Dental. After practicing full-time, Dr. Workman created Heartland Dental, a world-class dental support organization offering affiliated dentists nonclinical, administrative support. Heartland Dental has over 550 affiliated dental offices in 26 states. Dr. Workman may be reached at [email protected].
