Deb Roberge’s 40+ years in all aspects of the dental industry have provided her with insights that few can claim. From years as a team member in the trenches, to owning a crown and bridge lab, advising dentists on practical business management systems and developing a successful dental-only placement agency model that later became a nationally franchised dental placement service. Most recently, she has launched a unique ourdentalteam.com software. Her journey has been a productive one, and according to her, the passion she has for dentistry is what has carried her through to her successful career.
Deb’s favorite quote and why:
“Less is more.”
The reason I love the quote is it applies so often in case of placing personnel, working with personnel, that so often — be it the employer or the employee — we get so wrapped up in the words, that we don’t really get the message. And so, I always say, think before they come out of your mouth. And remember, less is more, especially in the heat of an argument, when a lot is “exposed” that you regret later.
Even when it comes to interviewing; the less you ask, the more you can hear. So, you ask questions, and you sit and listen for the answers, you can gather a lot more that way.
What Deb does for the dental profession:
…I have created a remote, virtual placement program. This has worked for about 3 ½ years now, where I place personnel for dentists across the country. I created very specific ad for only them. I never duplicate any of my advertising verbiage. I apply what I have created which is called SELF. It’s very much like DiSC profiles, but mine pertains to the dental field. And I have used it for many, many years.
It’s all internet-based, so I can give the prospective candidates link to take it, and a code and they take it over the internet for me. And I’m really very tuned in to interpreting it, so the dentist gets a little bit of an insight into their behavior. It’s not fool proof — nothing is — but at least it helps. And usually, it’s pretty darn accurate.
And basically, I long distance assist in the placement of personnel. And what I’ve also done is I’ve incorporated a little bit of what I had created within my placement agency model, and that is I supply the dentists with all kinds of support materials, (legally sanctioned because I have an attorney I work with) on questions to ask, how to have them come in for what I call a “skill assessment” day. I don’t care for the term “working interview”; not only is it kind of misleading, I have seen cases where a prospective hire misinterpreted the day, and tried to apply for unemployment insurance. And I kind of help the dentist walk through the principles and business end of hiring. So that’s one of the things I do.
And then the other is ourdentalteam.com, which is an internet-based system that tracks the activity of the team. So it’s a team management system, as opposed to a practice management system. And the benefits are many; I have had clients quickly be able to identify those non-performers; they can quickly see the performers; it reminds the dentists of meetings that they have to put in place; there’s a calendar that everybody sees; it’s all internet-based. They can look at it from anywhere. It’s cloud-based.
What’s nice to know as a program, is that I wanted to make it very unique. It already is. There is nothing really out there like it, but we will always have a one subscription price only. So it’s a monthly subscription for unlimited use. The upgrades are included, the support is totally included, and the subscriber, (the dentist and his team) gets the use of myself or one of my four facilitators for one hour per month, so that they can troubleshoot issues for them. Right now, it’s $89/month. I didn’t wanna have to mention it, but people are always thinking it’s going to be so expensive.
Deb’s difficult time story:
Deb recalls the story of a dentist she knows who lost his wife tragically to cancer and how this affected his practice. He couldn’t focus, and he knew he had to work because he has a team that rely on him. Instead of his team supporting him, a couple of them moved on. What he ultimately did was he found two replacement. Unfortunately, as he start to recover and get himself back, these two replacements kind of sabotaged his practice and took advantage of his weakness. Deb came in and she talked to the entire team including the team that were guilty of this, and they recognized it and they came around.
The happy part of the story is that he realized he probably should have someone take over his practice for a while, so he could heal. He did heal; he did very well. Things came around, the team supported him. He eventually got married about a year ago.
What is exciting her right now in dentistry:
One thing that I think is extremely exciting is the push and the interest in bringing oral cancer to the forefront.
The best advice Deb has ever received:
“Until someone proves themselves wrong, consider them right.” Give everybody a chance. Get to know them. Everybody has good in them.
The one habit that contributes to her success:
Staying on task. I am extremely driven and very much ready to help my clients.
Management or marketing pearl (tip):
Saying “thank you” to a team member means more than you know. And say it in front of the patient — it gets even more mileage that way.
What is exciting Deb right now:
Ourdentalteam.com. It’s very exciting. The more we keep forward with it, and the interest from so many big companies that I’m talking to that just love it. That’s my baby right now.
Internet / App resource that Deb feels is awesome:
Her book recommendation:
“Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us” by Daniel H. Pink
- Hardcover edition can be purchased on Amazon here.
- Paperback edition can be purchased on Amazon here.
- Kindle edition can be purchased on Amazon here.
Deb’s recommendation for those who are about to start new or restart:
“Be totally prepared before you go into any of these. Know your vision. Have it all literally written out for yourself. Get yourself totally organized with how you’re going to start this process.”
“Grow your team as your practice grows, rather than to over hire. (It can be done because I’ve done it numerous times.)You hire one or two people that understands that we’re on a growing stage; that as we grow, so will you. The hours may be a little bit different in the beginning, but there are people out there that love the excitement of fresh and new.”
“Align yourself with the right people to assist you. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.”
Ms. Deb Roberge can be reached at:
Website:
Blog: www.dentalteamstream.com
Email: deb@ourdentalteam.com
Phone: (520) 743-3350
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