One of the most emotionally draining aspects of buying and selling a dental practice is working towards a smooth transition for the practice staff. It is equally challenging for the staff who have worked together caring for practice patients for many years as it is for those who have just begun employment. Remember: change is stressful for everyone, and stress levels can be increased if the previous practice owner conducts a confidential sale without thorough consideration for the staff.

It is in everyone’s interest for the process to go smoothly. It is a time for new partnerships and new opportunities when conducted correctly. Let’s take a look at what a dental practice buyer can do to ease the staff transition.

Why is the Transition so Tough for Dental Practice Staff?

Put yourself in the staff members’ shoes. Firstly, some staff members may be worried about losing their jobs. Others may be so set in their ways, that they may not welcome the change. Perhaps some staff members’ job responsibilities may change and, in shifting the goalposts, you may take them out of their comfort zones. New staff members may struggle to transition into their new roles if they have just become used to the previous way of doing things.

How Can You Make the Experience Go Smoother?

Generally speaking, the best times of year for buying a dental practice are January and February because the practice has the rest of the year to settle into its new leadership and adapt to change, and the same can be said of the staff. Most people start the New Year off with new goals in mind, which means January can be a good time to introduce change. 

Be Tolerant

Consider that a change in dental practice ownership may not be welcomed by the staff. You can expect, to a degree, some level of resistance to the change but remember that you have the power to influence it for the better as well. Speak to the staff with respect but enforce the rules you set. Remember that respect is earned.

Establish a Mission, Vision, and Values

Part of your plans for transitioning the dental practice staff should involve internal branding. Create a mission, vision, and values all staff can understand, and involve them in drawing and creating these elements. Clarify the values and mission statement of the new dental practice, and allow everyone the opportunity to contribute to these ideals. Give everyone the space to be valued.

Take a diplomatic approach and ask for feedback from the staff. Find out what they think worked well under the previous ownership and what could have been improved. While you don’t have to entertain every single suggestion, the benefits here are twofold. Firstly, they give staff the opportunity to be heard. Secondly, you may have access to ideas you may never have thought of on your own, and be able to implement changes from a very interesting point of view: that of the people regularly interfacing directly with patients.

Also, explain how important it is that every member of the team does his or her best to ensure the transition goes smoothly. It is really important that the patients’ experience of the transition is unaffected, as losing patients during this period could be detrimental to the new practice’s future. This, in turn, can affect individuals’ job security.

Build Loyalty and Support

When the dental practice staff knows what their roles are, and how they can add value to its success, they are more likely to give you their loyalty and support.

Connect with each member of the team on an individual basis, and make an effort to get to know each person. Set clear deliverables for everyone and be explicit about what the performance metrics for their jobs are. It can help to soothe any anxiety about people’s professional futures when they know exactly what is expected of them.

Be sure to praise the dental practice staff for good work, and when they achieve these expected deliverables. Use these opportunities to boost your interpersonal relationships.

While you may experience some teething problems in the initial stages of a dental practice transition, preparing yourself for the different personalities and emotional responses from staff members can give you interesting insights into the people and processes that have been there longer than you. 

For more information on how to smooth your dental practice transition, contact the National Association of Practice Brokers.