Strategy: Train from the Ground Up

My philosophy for building a highly productive team starts with hiring people with no dental technology experience. They’re fresh, green and eager to learn. I don’t need to break any bad habits they might have learned at another lab and can train them to our standards.

I also prefer to hire people with hobbies that would transfer well into the lab, like artists or gamers. For example, my most recent hire, Lexie, is a tattoo artist; I was so impressed by the intricacies of her tattoo work and knew she could have the potential to make a great ceramist.

I dedicate time each day for hands-on training of new hires, either by working with them one on one or having another technician show them the ropes. For example, I spent a day teaching Lexie model work, the basics of anatomy and dental terminology. I also had my son, Cameron, spend a few days teaching her about ceramics.

Another key to building a good team and maximizing productivity is to avoid holding on to dead weight. When hiring, we let technicians know that we will evaluate whether or not they are a good fit after one week. In my experience, a week is sufficient time to determine the strength of their dexterity skills as well as their eagerness to learn. We do another evaluation at one month to determine how the employee’s skills have developed. If he’s struggling, we have an honest discussion on whether this is the best fit for him or, if I can see he’s trying hard, I’ll increase the amount of training. If he’s doing well, I’ll give him a raise.