If you are running your own business, you have a lot on your shoulders. The risk of burnout is always there—especially if you are a dentist with your own practice. In 2016, a study published in Occupational Medicine noted the high risk of burnout among dentists and dental students alike, citing the strain of the job and long working hours as two of the major factors. Whether you are a longtime practicing dentist or you are fresh out of dental school, you may experience feelings of burnout from time to time. The important thing to remember is that, if you are feeling burnt out, you’re not alone. Read on to see how a dental coach can help revive your passion for your profession.
What is burnout?
A 2013 Psychology Today article defined burnout as “a state of chronic stress that leads to physical and emotional exhaustion, cynicism, detachment, and feelings of ineffectiveness and lack of accomplishment.” When you are running your own dental practice, you have a lot of responsibilities. You have to take care of yourself, but the members of your team rely on you. So do the patients who have chosen you to care for them. It’s therefore important to be aware of the signs of burnout: insomnia, frequent headaches that may be mistaken as migraines, fatigue, nausea, emotional detachment, or feeling as if you have no purpose.
Why are dentists more vulnerable to experiencing burnout?
Dentists are usually self-driven individuals. They work in tight spaces, and many of the procedures have little to no margin for error; at times, being even a millimeter off could have serious consequences. Meanwhile, as the owner of your own practice, you also remain conscious of trying to see as many patients as possible in a single day, so as to maximize both the efficiency and income of your business.
How does coaching help?
A dental coach is a professional with a unique skill set; these coaches possess a tremendous amount of knowledge about the industry and understand the specific challenges of running a busy dental practice in an extremely competitive field. Sometimes, you just need someone to provide an outside perspective—whether it pertains to your professional life or your personal life. A dental coach will view every aspect of your practice from an impartial point of view but with the goal of improving the overall effectiveness of your practice. In short, coaching helps you reorganize your professional life.
Imagine waking up excited to go into work every day. You may not feel that way anymore, but you probably did once. Dental coaching can help you recapture your passion and your love for what you do. Bryant Consultants offers both on-site and remote coaching, with our “Coaching From A Distance” program providing the same in-depth level of consultation via online conferencing. The services offered by Bryant Consultants can help you realize your vision, establish goals, and set processes in place to evolve your practice. Contact us by calling (877) 768-4799. We provide consultation, training, and coaching to help improve the operations of your practice so that you can provide exceptional results to your patients. No office is out of reach for us; we will even come to you!
