Hiring or Hustling Backwards? (Part 2: Leadership, Metrics & the True Cost of Delay)
Dental Drill Bits with Sandy Pardue and Dana Salisbury
Release Date: 06/16/2025
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[REPLAY] Job Descriptions Might Be Costing You Great Hires
Dental Drill Bits with Sandy Pardue and Dana Salisbury
Episode Summary: In this episode of Dental Drill Bits, Sandy Pardue and Dana Salisbury explore the often-overlooked power of a well-crafted job description. They explain why generic or outdated descriptions can set your practice up for failure—creating confusion, legal risk, and missed hiring opportunities. You’ll learn what must be included, how to stay compliant, and why being transparent about your expectations (including physical demands and performance metrics) is key to attracting the right candidates. If you're serious about improving your hiring process and retaining top...
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[REPLAY] Marketing Your Practice to Top Talent
Dental Drill Bits with Sandy Pardue and Dana Salisbury
Episode Summary: In this episode of Dental Drill Bits, Sandy Pardue and Dana Pardue tackle one of the most underestimated tools in the hiring process—your job ad. They explain why hiring should be treated like a marketing campaign and how your job postings either attract or repel the very people you are trying to hire. From crafting compelling headlines and utilizing creative job titles to understanding hiring psychology, Sandy and Dana share strategies to elevate your job ads and recruit with intention. They also explore the power of nontraditional hiring sources and...
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[REPLAY] Marketing Can't Save You From a Bad Phone Call
Dental Drill Bits with Sandy Pardue and Dana Salisbury
Plan Forward The #1 membership plan platform for dental practices — simple, secure, and patient-friendly. 👉 Mango Voice VoIP for dental practices that want fewer missed calls, better patient communication, and stronger scheduling. 👉 📲 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!
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[Replay] Wasted Time, Open Time, and Maximizing Your Schedule
Dental Drill Bits with Sandy Pardue and Dana Salisbury
Episode Title: Wasted Time, Open Time, and Maximizing Your Schedule Episode Description: Welcome to another exciting episode of Dental Drill Bits! This week, Sandy Pardue is joined by a very special guest—Dana Pardue, the original co-host and HR business professional. Together, they kick off the new season with a deep dive into one of the most critical topics for dental practices: managing open time in your schedule. Discover actionable tips to identify, track, and eliminate wasted time in your practice. Whether you're dealing with broken appointments, patient no-shows, or...
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Dental Christmas Parties of Christmas Past
Dental Drill Bits with Sandy Pardue and Dana Salisbury
In this festive episode, Dana and Sandy unwrap the unforgettable world of dental office Christmas parties — the good, the chaotic, and the “HR-will-hear-about-this” kind of moments. From table fires to haunted hotels, over-served team members, questionable Ubers, party buses, shopping sprees, and meaningful low-budget celebrations, they share what makes a holiday party truly memorable while keeping your practice safe, appreciated, and drama-free. Whether you’re planning a simple potluck or an all-out evening event, this episode gives you the ideas, warnings, and best practices to make...
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Annual Planning Power Moves: How to Build a Stronger Practice in 2026
Dental Drill Bits with Sandy Pardue and Dana Salisbury
Episode Summary In this strategic and energizing episode of Dental Drill Bits, Dana and Sandy unpack one of the most overlooked drivers of practice stability and growth, your annual planning session. Together, they walk through the questions, metrics, team conversations, and leadership decisions that set the tone for a productive, organized, and profitable new year. Sandy shares her trusted framework for evaluating practice performance, identifying bottlenecks, and turning missed opportunities into measurable goals. Dana breaks down how to communicate the importance of an annual planning...
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Why Some Dentists Love Dentistry (and Others Can’t Wait to Leave)
Dental Drill Bits with Sandy Pardue and Dana Salisbury
In this eye-opening episode of Dental Drill Bits, Dana and Sandy Pardue tackle a topic few talk about openly — why some dentists genuinely love their profession while others can’t wait to get out. Drawing from Sandy’s experience consulting with over 600 dental practices, they reveal the defining difference: the dentists who thrive understand business and leadership, not just clinical care. Together, they unpack why mastering people skills, systems, and practice management can transform dentistry from stressful to deeply fulfilling. From learning how to manage money and motivate your...
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Breaking Down Walls: Communicating Without Conflict
Dental Drill Bits with Sandy Pardue and Dana Salisbury
In this episode of Dental Drill Bits, Dana and Sandy dive into one of the most challenging scenarios in any dental practice—when a team member refuses a task that’s part of their role. Inspired by a real Dentaltown post, Sandy breaks down what’s really behind these moments, from unclear expectations and lack of training to blurred lines of authority. She shares how leaders can respond calmly, communicate clearly, and reset accountability without damaging trust. Dana adds perspective on balancing empathy and authority, and how understanding communication styles can help prevent tension...
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The Pulse of the Practice: Balancing Team Energy and Measurable Success
Dental Drill Bits with Sandy Pardue and Dana Salisbury
In this episode of Dental Drill Bits, Dana and Sandy discuss the importance of measuring team energy and performance metrics in dental practices. They emphasize that while patient care is paramount, tracking statistics can enhance care quality and team morale. The conversation explores the concept of buy-in from team members, the significance of accountability, and how metrics can serve as tools for improvement rather than judgment. The episode concludes with actionable steps for practices to foster a positive culture through measurement and celebration of achievements. takeaways Your team's...
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When Negativity Spreads: How Complaining About Patients Hurts Your Practice Culture
Dental Drill Bits with Sandy Pardue and Dana Salisbury
💡 Episode Summary: In this week’s episode of Dental Drill Bits, Dana Pardue and Sandy Pardue tackle a topic every dental team faces but rarely talks about — complaining about patients. What starts as harmless venting can quietly poison your team’s morale and even drive productivity down. Dana and Sandy unpack how negativity spreads through emotional contagion, why gossip never stops at patients, and how leaders can recognize when venting has crossed into toxicity. Sandy shares real-world examples from decades in consulting — from Dentaltown discussions to lessons learned working...
info_outlineHiring is never just about plugging a hole. It’s a strategic leadership move—and when rushed or mismanaged, it can quietly sabotage your entire practice.
In Part 2 of the Hiring Series, Dana and Sandy dive deep into what happens between identifying a hiring need and getting the green light to bring someone on board. From pecking orders to prep work, leadership courage to legal compliance, they unpack everything you should have in place before you hit “post job ad.”
They also share formulas and benchmarks to help you bring data—not just emotion—into your hiring decisions. Because the right people in the right seats don’t just ease stress... they build your business.
You’ll learn how to:
✅ Calculate attrition rate and turnover cost
✅ Know when leadership is lagging—and how to step up
✅ Use team dynamics and KPIs to confirm true staffing needs
✅ Spot red flags in candidates and existing team members
✅ Make confident decisions about who to keep, who to lose, and when to act fast
📓 Listener challenge: Pull out your team’s job descriptions and update them. Is everyone clear on their seat, their duties, and how success is measured?
Key takeaways:
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Hiring starts with leadership. Don’t outsource what only you can model.
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Don’t ignore the front office. Patient flow is the clearest indicator you need more hands.
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Attrition above 25% is a red flag. Act on it, don’t ignore it.
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Turnover costs average 30% of annual salary. Every rushed hire costs more than you think.
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You must always accept resumes. Train your team and stay compliant.
🔊 Special thanks to our sponsors:
📣 Identity Dental Marketing – The industry’s go-to for branding, SEO, and growth. Discover how they can elevate your practice at identitydental.com
🦷 Plan Forward – Simplify and grow your dental membership plans with ease. Learn more at planforward.io
📲 Join the conversation!
What formulas or hiring benchmarks have helped you lead with confidence? Post your insights in the Dental Drill Bits Facebook Group. Your input might be featured in a future episode!