The True Value of Investing in Team Culture: Lessons from the Dental Monitoring Summit 2024
In orthodontics, team culture is everything. It’s what keeps us going through the big treatment wins and the day-to-day challenges. Attending the Dental Monitoring Summit 2024 in Austin, Texas, with my team drove this home for me yet again. Events like this offer much more than educational sessions; they bring us closer, spark fresh ideas, and build a team spirit that you simply can’t put a price tag on.
When I took the stage to speak, knowing my team was right there with me made all the difference. There’s a special confidence that comes with having a unified team by your side, especially when sharing our approach to Dental Monitoring with colleagues. And it wasn’t just me getting up there to talk; my team was learning, connecting with other practices, and bringing back new insights. It was a shared experience that allowed each of us to come away with something valuable—and more connected than ever.
Learning Together: A Culture of Constant Growth
In The Culture Code, Daniel Coyle talks about how high-performing teams aren’t just built on skills alone but through moments of vulnerability, trust, and learning together. The Summit was a perfect example of this. We spent the days diving into sessions on optimizing DM technology, streamlining workflows, and improving patient experiences. Each session sparked new ideas, and back at the office, these lessons will help us deliver an even better experience for our patients. But what really brought those insights to life were the casual conversations we had between sessions—each team member offering a fresh perspective on how we could put what we were learning into practice.
It’s not just about listening to lectures; it’s about creating a culture where everyone has a voice and a hand in shaping the future of our practice. Being at the Summit together reinforced that we’re a team committed to growing and evolving in how we serve our patients.
Bonding Outside the Office: The Value of Fun After-Hours
Then, there’s the part of team trips that often gets overlooked but is just as important: going out together in the evenings. Being out of the office gives everyone a chance to relax and connect in a way we can’t during the daily grind. Whether we were grabbing dinner, swapping stories over drinks, or exploring Austin’s nightlife, these moments are huge for building trust and rapport. They let us see each other as more than coworkers—and it’s that connection that translates back to better communication, collaboration, and overall teamwork.
An Investment That Goes Beyond Numbers
Trips like these might be an investment in time and money, but I’d argue the return on investment is incalculable. The strengthened relationships, the sense of unity, and the renewed excitement for what we do don’t fit into a spreadsheet—but they show up in every patient interaction and every team meeting back at the office. Each of us came back with a stronger commitment to Dental Monitoring and a deeper understanding of how we can make a difference in our patients’ lives.
When I look at my team now, I don’t see just roles and titles. I see a group of people who are genuinely invested in our mission to provide exceptional orthodontic care. That’s the kind of culture I want to keep building—a team that feels valued, motivated, and fully part of something bigger than their day-to-day tasks.
The Bottom Line: Investing in Team Culture Pays Off
As The Culture Code reminds us, “A culture is not something you are. It’s something you do.” Bringing my team to events like the Dental Monitoring Summit shows them they’re worth investing in and that their growth matters just as much as mine. These trips are about more than just training; they’re about creating lasting bonds and a culture that thrives on trust and collaboration.
In the end, I know that investing in my team is what keeps my practice moving forward. And while the returns on experiences like this might not be easily calculated, their impact is unmistakable—and invaluable.
