Hiring a dental consultant? Here are 3 tips to get prepared [Free Guide]

In your journey as a dental business owner, there may come a time when you need expert guidance to solve a specific problem. This is typically when a dentist hires a dental consultant — and it can be a wise business move. 

“A skilled consultant will not only help you make changes in your practice systems, but will also — and most importantly — illuminate the leadership choices that led to the issues in the first place. This is essential because, without insight into your own behavior, you will repeat this pattern despite the consultant’s best efforts.” —Dental Economics

As a full-service dental revenue cycle management (RCM) provider, DCS works with dental consultants often. We partner with them to help dental businesses with special projects that drive revenue. Through our years of experience working with dental consultants, we have a few tips up our sleeves. 

This article offers you 3 major tips for preparing to work with a dental consultant. And for extra support, we’ve even included a free, downloadable resource: Dentists’ Guide to Hiring a Consultant: 5 Questions to Ask Yourself, that covers more than a dozen things to consider when researching dental consultants. Fill out the form below and the guide will arrive in your inbox within minutes. 

But first — let’s get you prepared to work with a dental consultant, so you can get the most out of the collaboration and your investment. 

Tip #1: Let your team know this is a change you’re considering

It’s more common than you think — a dentist hides changes like this from their in-house team, and it creates friction when the secret is uncovered. We understand why you may be hesitant to loop them in. Change can be challenging, especially for a tight-knit team that has their own ways of completing tasks.

But if you spring this decision to hire a consultant on them without prior explanation, they can feel blindsided or even threatened that they might be losing their job.

Communication and transparency are keys to a healthy dental office culture.

As a leader, it's your responsibility to explain why you are exploring the decision to partner with a dental consultant. If no one is losing their job, and you just wish to improve where you can in the office, be sure to include that in your explanation. 

Plus, when you discuss this decision with your team, you can listen to their thoughts and concerns, and take those into account for selecting the right consultant. You hired bright people, and they may have ideas you hadn’t considered.

With your team’s full support, you’ll have an easier transition period once the consultant begins working with your team. If they feel heard during the hiring process, they’re more likely to be amenable to the consultant’s recommendations. 

Tip #2: Have an open mind, and be ready for some changes

Now that your team is on board, it’s time to shift your own mindset. 

If you aren’t ready to hear where changes need to be made or where mistakes can be prevented, you’re going to have a strained relationship with your consultant — and also waste your time and money.

Remember why you’re exploring hiring a consultant in the first place: To improve your dental business in ways you can't imagine or don't have time to implement. 

You need to be prepared for some changes at your dental practice, and if you’re going to make the most of the consulting services, you and your team must be willing to at least try out the consultant’s recommendations.

Also, be prepared to have an additional person to stay in communication with. Your consultant likely won’t email you every single day, but you will need to carve out time to meet with them once a week or so.

This will be a change in your week, plus one more thing to add to your already busy schedule, but working with a consultant is a relationship — for it to work, you have to make time for each other and be responsive. 

Related: 10 tips to help your dental team accept the change to outsourcing

Tip #3: Get ahead of the curve by determining your business’  weak spots

Before taking the plunge with any consultant, it’s important to list what you believe to be your dental business’ weaknesses and your team’s limitations. This self-awareness will help you and your team be better prepared (and excited!) for the changes to come, and it will also help the dental consultant use their time with you as efficiently as possible. 

With your unique insight into where you think your business falls short, your dental consultant can start there on improvements, allowing them more time to dive deeper into shortcomings you didn’t notice yourself. 

A complete picture of how your dental business works — and where it doesn’t work — requires that everything be laid out on the table, and when they're well-informed, your dental consultant will be equipped to help you strategize and implement real, sustainable changes. 

Download our free Dentists’ Guide to Hiring a Consultant: 5 Questions to Ask Yourself

To jumpstart your dental consulting research journey, download our free Dentists’ Guide to Hiring a Consultant: 5 Questions to Ask Yourself. 

This guide offers 5 main questions plus 15 clarifying questions to ask yourself and your team, so you can gain a better understanding of what kind of consultant your dental business needs. 

Fill out the form below, and a copy of the guide will arrive in your inbox in just a few minutes.

Let DCS help you on your consultant research journey

To recap, here are our experts’ 3 major tips for preparing to work with a dental consultant: 

• Tip #1: Let your team know this is a change you’re considering
• Tip #2: Have an open mind, and be ready for some changes
• Tip #3: Get ahead of the curve by determining your business’ weak spots

Working with a dental consultant will give you a new perspective on your dental business and can lead to greater success, continued growth, and consistent cash flow. 

DCS offers full revenue cycle management, as well as support for larger dental business’ special projects that includes working with your consultant to maximize your revenue. 

To discover how our services will streamline your processes, book a free 30-minute call with one of our RCM experts.