every clinician deserves constructive feedback Have you ever seen a brilliant clinician talk a patient out of treatment? Effective communication is essential in dental care, especially when highly-skilled specialists present treatment recommendations to patients. These clinicians often possess deep technical knowledge but may struggle to convey their expertise in a way that patients easily understand and feel comfortable with. Coaching these professionals to improve communica

If your treatment plan looks brilliant but reads like a dental textbook, don’t be surprised when patients don’t proceed. Get a lay person to sanity-check the message, then watch conversion improve. I've been reminded (again) this week of the need to interrogate every one of my clients on their treatment plan preparation and presentation skills. The last 12 months have seen us focusing on "format" - how are Tx plans presented to patients? Innovations include: Using Loom videos

Two taxi rides yesterday, and a reminder of something I try to practise whenever I’m given the opportunity. Talk to people. Properly talk to them. Taxi drivers are a gift in that regard. You have time, you have proximity, and you have a captive audience on both sides. At some point, once basic rapport is established, I ask my favourite question. "Nobody ever left school wanting to be a taxi driver. So what did you want to do, what did you end up doing, and how did you get her

The rapid rise of technology and artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping how dental businesses should approach training and development (and, properly embraced, is making T&D easier!). While these tools offer powerful ways to enhance learning, they also risk alienating team members if used without care. Compassion must guide the integration of technology and AI in training programmes to help individuals adapt, grow, and feel supported amid change. Technology can deliver per

I walked onto the stage at the Dental Monitoring conference with a simple promise. No pictures of teeth. No before-and-after galleries. No clinical fireworks. Just the business of dentistry, and why the next two years will reward the practices that use technology to buy time, then spend that time wisely. The brief I’d been given was blunt and practical: tame NHS orthodontic chaos, create time, and turn that time into private growth. I’m not arrogant enough to pretend I can fi

Are you ready to take on a rewarding challenge that pushes your limits and makes a real difference? On 13th September 2026, we invite 15 passionate riders to join us for the iconic London to Brighton Cycle Ride. This 55-mile journey is more than just a ride — it’s a chance to raise vital awareness and funds for the Mouth Cancer Foundation, supporting people affected by mouth cancer. Whether you’re an experienced cyclist or looking to challenge yourself for a meaningful cause,

Possibly the most important aspect of your well-being - sleep Are you getting enough sleep? I suspect that for many readers the answer will be a "NO!". Sleep is often seen as a luxury or a hobby, something to enjoy when time allows. For dental practice owners and managers, this mindset can lead to burnout, reduced focus, and lower productivity. But what if sleep was treated as a vital management tool? Setting a fixed bedtime and waking time for just 14 days, and protecting th

In the latest edition of Two Reds are Better than One , we woke up super early, to interview Franck Page, the owner of Coastal Dental Care in Australia's Gold Coast, and Julia Riese, the Group Director of Marketing & Operations. Franck, who graduated in 1993, quickly became a part owner of a dental practice within a year. His passion for practice ownership has led him to expand his group to 17 offices, a wholesale dental business, two labs, 83 clinicians, and 300 staff member

Replacing unsuccessful habits with successful ones. Since I got back from Africa, I’ve been reminded of a lesson I first heard from Strategic Coach in Toronto: there is no such thing as self-discipline. There are only successful habits and unsuccessful habits. And if I’m being honest, over the last six months I’ve become far too familiar with the unsuccessful ones. Not in an obvious, dramatic way. More in the quiet, incremental way that happens when life is busy, the weeks ar

After the Africa trip - this morning begins a 6-day week of delivery. Podcast recordings, blogs, articles, filming training videos and delivering presentations. Face to face meetings, Zoom calls and workshops. As they would say in cycling - full gas. I count my blessings.