Gossip at Work: The Hidden Cost of Chatter
Dental Drill Bits with Sandy Pardue and Dana Salisbury
Release Date: 04/21/2025
Dental Drill Bits with Sandy Pardue and Dana Salisbury
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📣 Identity Dental Marketing – The industry’s go-to for branding, SEO, and growth. Discover how they can elevate your practice at 📲 Join the conversation! Drop your favorite phone call tip or share a “worst call ever” moment in the Dental Drill Bits Facebook Group—your post could inspire our next episode! Let me know if you’d like a shortened version for social, or if this episode will also be linked to a specific event or download!
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Membership Plans That Work: What Compliance Really Looks Like Dental membership plans aren’t new—but compliance around them is becoming more critical than ever. In this episode of Dental Drill Bits, Sandy and Dana are joined by Jane Levy, Co-founder and CEO of Plan Forward, to uncover how in-house dental plans can boost treatment acceptance, increase loyalty, and help practices navigate the complex world of legal compliance. They discuss real-world misconceptions, why membership plans aren’t just for fee-for-service practices, and how the right tools (and the right vendor) make all the...
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We’re diving into a topic many practice managers quietly struggle with—what happens when your team feels more like friends than employees? Dana and Sandy tackle a heartfelt listener question: “How do I manage a team I’ve been friends with for years?” Whether you were promoted from within, or made the mistake of hiring a friend, this episode will help you maintain professionalism without sacrificing connection. You’ll learn how to: Lead with warmth while keeping your edge Set clear boundaries and expectations Avoid favoritism and cliques Stay approachable without losing...
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Vacation-Proofing Your Team Episode Description Taking time off as a dental professional shouldn't leave you stressed out or worried about what's happening back at the office. In this episode of Dental Drill Bits, Sandy and Dana break down how to set your team up for success before you leave—so you can truly unplug. They cover real-world strategies to vacation-proof your practice, from setting department-specific goals to sending advance memos, and even encouraging team members to take ownership of their responsibilities. Plus, they tackle the big one: why showing trust in your team matters...
info_outlineGossip at Work: The Hidden Cost of Chatter
Dental Drill Bits with Sandy Pardue and Dana Salisbury
Gossip at Work: The Hidden Cost of Chatter
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Episode Description
Gossip may seem like harmless chatter, but it has the power to erode trust, damage morale, and derail productivity in your dental practice. In this episode, Sandy and Dana tackle the tough topic of workplace gossip—what it sounds like, why it spreads, and how to stop it before it takes a toll on your culture and your team.
From NLRB rules to real-life consulting stories, they share practical ways to address negativity, encourage accountability, and build a team that thrives on trust. Plus, Dana delivers scripted verbal skills you can use right away to shut gossip down respectfully and effectively.
Whether you're a practice owner, manager, or team member, this episode will help you foster a workplace where professionalism wins and gossip has no place.
In This Episode You’ll Learn:
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Why “friendly chatter” sometimes crosses the line into legal risk
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What the National Labor Relations Board says about banning gossip
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How negativity spreads—and how to stop it at the source
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Why some team members resist consulting and how to handle it
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How to create a safe, gossip-free workspace with open doors and clear roles
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The real reason broken appointments and low morale go hand in hand
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Why clearly defined job descriptions reduce friction and confusion
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How to use team agreements and core values to unify your staff
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A leadership lesson from the book The Energy Bus by Jon Gordon
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Verbal skills to shut gossip down with professionalism
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Why patients are paying attention to more than just your dentistry
Bonus Resource:
Want a team-building moment at your next staff meeting? Look up the poem “Nobody’s Friend” and read it aloud. You might be surprised by the conversations it sparks.
Upcoming Event:
Front Desk Pro – Philadelphia
May 9, 2025
Use promo code SECRETSAUCE (capital S in Secret and Sauce) to save $100 per person
Seats are limited and these events always sell out!
Thank You to Our Sponsors:
Plan Forward
Plan Forward makes membership plans easy. Their revolutionary platform helps you grow your dental practice, improve patient loyalty, and create predictable recurring revenue. Learn more at planforward.io.
Mango Voice
Mango Voice is a cloud-based phone system built for dental offices. It’s packed with smart features that help your front desk perform at its best—from call recording and routing to texting and integrations. See it in action at mangovoice.com.
Identity Dental Marketing
Your marketing firm should tell you who’s landing on your website and what they’re doing there. Identity Dental Marketing does that—and more. From website strategy to SEO and patient attraction systems, they help you grow smart and stay visible. Explore at identitydental.com.
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