Sheri Kay is a published author, and was voted one of the Top 25 Women in Dentistry by Dental Products Report magazine in 2011. She is the COO, and Lead Practice Coach for ACT Dental Practice Coaching. Her enthusiasm is contagious, and her dedication to the success of others is remarkable.
Sheri’s favorite quote and why:
“Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.” – J. M. Barrie (click to tweet)
Sheri believes that we all have our stories and we all have our lives, and none of us often know the depth of what’s going on with the person we meet; whether it’s another dentist, or a team member. She says she would rather be part of making somebody’s day and showing compassion, than contributing to their sorrows.
“Whatever you pay attention to is what will grow.” (click to tweet)
We can control our thinking. We all have troubles, and we all have our stories, and if we focus too much on the negative, the negative grows. We should put our attention to positive things and positive things will happen.
What Sheri does for the dental profession:
A lot of Sheri’s work revolves around leadership, team development, helping team with organizational systems. She believes that she is influencing people and helping them to have better lives, by becoming the very best version of themselves. She wants to help dentists become much better leaders and better organizers. She wants team members to realize that they can be critical thinkers and decision makers, and make a positive difference, not only for the practice and for their team, but for their patients.
Sheri’s difficult time story:
While on a mission trip in Guatemala in 2010, Sheri learned that she has breast cancer. In spite of this, she still decided to finish her week out, helping hundreds of patients that needed medical and dental care.
Sheri then had double mastectomy, then months of chemotherapy. She learned a lot about breast cancer during her treatment. She started blogging about her experience, and quickly found that others were inspired by her writing — and that she was not alone.
What Sheri sees as the up and coming thing in dentistry:
Sheri is concerned that corporate dentistry is becoming so mainstream, that the potential of finer dental practices might be lost; the patients aren’t always offered the very best treatments, and is not being made aware of their options.
On the other hand, Sheri is excited about the fact she is still meeting tons of young, enthusiastic and hungry dentists who realize that developing leadership skills, listening skills and behavioral skills can help them have amazing practices, and wonderful lives — and that beautiful, fine dentistry can still be part of everyone’s future, if they want it.
The Best advice Sheri has ever received:
When Sheri had severe malocclusion but she wasn’t willing to undergo with the treatments to correct it, her friend Steve Radcliffe asked her, “How can you take your own patients, where you are not willing to go yourself?” She thought about it, and eventually decided to proceed with the treatments. She continued to think about this question almost every day since, and started applying it to her life as well.
The one habit that contributes to Sheri’s success:
Sheri makes a list when she gets up every morning, or when she gets to bed every night, of all of the things that have to happen for her the next day — and she gets it done.
Clinical or Management pearl (tip):
Having morning huddles every day, and team meetings on a regular basis. She encourages two hours every single week to work on the practice. She thinks there has to be forums to plan and learn how to work together, how to celebrate what’s working, and how to work through the challenges as they arise.
Technology or procedure that is exciting Sheri right now:
Sheri is excited about the current marketing opportunities in dentistry, like the use of social media to promote practices and reach out to patients, and share how they are different from the corporate office down the street. Putting pictures up on walls and turning practices into the beautiful galleries of what is possible; the use of videos on websites; and getting testimonials from patients. Sheri thinks it’s fun to have those personal touch in the whole concept of marketing in dentistry.
Internet / App resource that Sheri feels is awesome:
ACT Dental Practice Coaching just launched “ACT Dental U” last year. It’s a service where people can sign up for, for like $99/month or $1,000/year. They have hundreds of training and motivational videos available — with new ones being added every day.
Solutionreach/Smile Reminder – helps keep patients in the flow, and keep patients coming in; being able to send text messages and help dentists manage a lot of Google reports and surveys and get video testimonials and doing more and more all the time.
Sheri’s recommendation for those who are about to start new or restart:
Don’t try to do it all by yourself. So many have already walked this path. You don’t have to be in it by yourself. Have mentors, coaches, and ask questions to people that have already done it before you.
Sheri’s book recommendation:
“Hineni: One Woman’s Journey through Breast Cancer” by Sheri Kay
- You can purchase her book here.
“The Art of Possibility: Transforming Professional and Personal Life” by Rosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander
- Paperback edition can be purchased on Amazon here.
- Audiobook edition from Amazon Audible can be purchased here.
“Leadership and the New Science: Discovering Order in a Chaotic World” by Margaret J. Wheatley
- Paperback edition can be purchased on Amazon here.
- Kindle edition from Amazon can be purchased here.
Ms. Sheri Kay can be reached at:
- Email: sheri@actdental.com
- Website: www.sherikay.com
ACT Dental :
- Phone: 1-800-851-8186
- Website: www.actdental.com
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