Couverture de The Best Practices Show with Kirk Behrendt

The Best Practices Show with Kirk Behrendt

The Best Practices Show with Kirk Behrendt

De : ACT Dental
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 Welcome to The Best Practices Show, hosted by Kirk Behrendt, founder of ACT Dental (https://www.actdental.com/) and a leader in dental practice coaching. This podcast is your gateway to discovering the hidden gems and tactics used by the most successful dental practices worldwide. At ACT Dental, we have meticulously curated strategies that have consistently proven effective in elevating dental practices. Our podcast, The Best Practices Show, extends our commitment to sharing this wealth of knowledge. Each episode features interviews with renowned dental professionals and industry leaders who have made significant strides in their practices. They share their experiences, insights, and the challenges they've overcome, offering a unique perspective that you won't find anywhere else. Why should you listen to The Best Practices Show? Whether you're a seasoned dentist, a new practice owner, or somewhere in between, this podcast is tailored to inspire and educate. Our goal is not just to provide you with information but to transform the way you think about and run your dental practice. We delve into topics ranging from advanced clinical techniques and practice management to leadership skills and personal growth. Kirk Behrendt, a respected figure in the dental community, brings his vast experience and infectious enthusiasm to each episode, making complex topics both understandable and engaging. As the CEO of ACT Dental, Kirk has helped countless dental practices thrive by focusing on holistic development - professionally, personally, and within their community. Our commitment to authenticity and practical advice sets The Best Practices Show apart. We don't just talk about theories; we dive into real-life applications you can implement immediately in your practice. Our community-centric approach means we're always listening to our audience and constantly evolving our content to meet your needs. In addition to the invaluable insights from our guests, we also provide access to exclusive resources available through ACT Dental. These resources complement the podcast topics and give you a more comprehensive understanding and practical tools to apply in your practice. By subscribing to The Best Practices Show, you're not just gaining access to a podcast; you're joining a community of like-minded professionals committed to excellence in dentistry. So, are you ready to transform your practice and be the best version of yourself? Join us on this journey, and let's grow together. Hit subscribe and never miss an episode of The Best Practices Show – where we uncover the secrets to the success of the world's best dental practices, one episode at a time. Subscribe to The Best Practices Show on Apple Podcasts Join our community and start your journey towards a more innovative, more successful dental practice today!Copyright 2017-2025. All rights reserved. Economie
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  • 1041: AI & HR for Private Dental Practices - Alan Twigg

    1041: AI & HR for Private Dental Practices - Alan Twigg
    May 1 2026
    AI is showing up everywhere in dentistry, but how far should you go with it in HR—and where does it create risk? In this episode, Kirk Behrendt brings back Alan Twigg, HR professional and leader at Bent Ericksen, to unpack practical, low-risk ways to use AI in a private dental practice, where it can backfire, and why compliance and culture still require trained human judgment. You’ll learn what AI does well today, what it gets wrong, how employees may use it against you, and how to protect your practice while staying efficient. Listen to Episode 1041 of The Best Practices Show!Main Takeaways:AI can summarize information confidently even when it is wrong, so you should not use it as a source of HR compliance guidance.Employees and patients can use AI tools to research employment and practice issues faster, increasing the need for accurate HR compliance.Using AI to write or review policies can miss common real-world scenarios and still requires significant human time to verify and maintain.AI’s default “agreeable” responses can be risky in HR decisions like termination because it may not challenge high-risk choices.Useful AI applications in HR are generally administrative or creative support, not legal interpretation or employee-relations decision-making.Culture and trust remain key differentiators for private practices, especially as larger organizations pursue efficiency through automation.The real value of technology should be freeing time for human connection, not compressing more tasks into the day.Snippets:00:00 AI is everywhere—would you use it for HR?01:00 Alan explains what he does and why HR support matters in dentistry.04:00 Kirk on “this will change everything” predictions and why trust still runs dentistry.08:00 The five Cs that differentiate humans from AI: communication, compassion, curiosity, creativity, courage.11:00 Why AI can be dangerous for HR compliance information, with real examples of errors.14:00 The Workday lawsuit and what it could mean for AI-driven hiring tools.17:00 What happens when a practice tries to use AI to build policies and procedures.22:00 How AI’s “agreeable” nature can increase risk in terminations and employee conflict.25:00 Safer, practical uses of AI: UEP drafting, appreciation ideas, and reducing admin drudgery.28:00 Five years out: efficiency vs. work intensification, and the hope for more human connection.32:00 Final cautions: don’t let AI change your vision, and don’t use it for compliance decisions.Guest Bio/Guest Resources:Alan Twigg is the president of Bent Ericksen & Associates. For over 10 years, he has guided thousands of clients and consultants through the ever-changing world of HR and employment compliance. He is a speaker, consultant, and author who is passionate about bringing education and peace of mind to such a confusing topic.As a strong proponent of symbiotic employer-employee relations, Alan is passionate about teamwork and positive work cultures, with an emphasis on long-term personnel retention and employment compliance, where his solutions-oriented outlook excels.Resources mentioned:https://bentericksen.com/More Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life:The Best Practices Show: https://www.actdental.com/podcast/Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpaUpcoming Events & Workshops: https://www.actdental.com/events/Smile Source: https://www.smilesource.com/Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.comSubscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com
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    36 min
  • 1040: Turnover Isn't a Staffing Problem—It's a Culture Problem - Heather Crockett

    1040: Turnover Isn't a Staffing Problem—It's a Culture Problem - Heather Crockett
    Apr 29 2026
    Turnover is expensive, disruptive, and often blamed on “the staffing market”—but what if the real issue is your internal culture and leadership systems? In this episode, Kirk Behrendt sits down with coach Heather Crockett to explain why turnover isn’t a staffing problem—it’s a culture problem—and to walk you through the practical framework that attracts the right people, keeps them, and helps them thrive. You’ll learn what truly drives turnover, the leadership behaviors that reduce it, and the culture systems that create clarity, consistency, and accountability. Listen to Episode 1040 of The Best Practices Show!Main Takeaways:Turnover is often a lagging indicator of deeper issues like unclear leadership, inconsistent expectations, weak onboarding, and uneven accountability.Strong cultures still attract and retain top talent, even in tight labor markets, because people choose workplaces for leadership and experience—not just pay.Clear roles, defined success, and documented expectations reduce guessing and frustration, and help the right people perform in the right seats.Consistency in leadership—supported by regular meeting rhythms—eliminates “rule changes” that make accountability feel unfair.Systems create predictable, repeatable behaviors and improve training so you don’t rely on memory, mood, or “training by people.”Avoiding conflict quietly erodes culture; productive conflict builds trust when leaders use clear frameworks and address issues early.Team members stay when they feel clear, valued, and connected to meaningful purpose—not because of perks alone.Snippets:00:00 Turnover isn’t a staffing problem—it’s a culture problem.02:00 Why hiring is hard, and why culture is the real retention advantage.05:30 Turnover as a lagging indicator of internal leadership and systems issues.07:00 Why onboarding drives retention and the “3-3-3” framework.10:00 “Team members come first” and what it changes operationally.11:00 Clarity: defining roles, success, and expectations for behavior and performance.13:30 Consistency and the meeting rhythms that remove unfair accountability.17:00 Systems as the “this is the way” to reduce errors and speed up training.19:00 Purpose: moving from transactional dentistry to meaningful, relational work.22:00 Avoiding conflict erodes culture and drives high performers away.24:00 Clear is kind: why clarity prevents conflict from becoming a crisis.26:30 Tactical leadership behaviors you can start immediately to reduce turnover.29:00 Two questions to ask your team to uncover what’s hurting culture.Guest Bio/Guest Resources:Heather Crockett is a Lead Practice Coach who finds joy in not only improving practices but improving the lives of those she coaches as well. With over 20 years of combined experience in assisting, office management, and clinical dental hygiene, her awareness supports many aspects of the practice setting.Heather received her dental hygiene degree from the Utah College of Dental Hygiene in 2008. Networking in the dental community comes easy to her, and she loves to connect with like-minded colleagues on social media. Heather enjoys both attending and presenting continuing education to expand her knowledge and learn from her friends and colleagues.She enjoys hanging out with her husband, three sons, and their dog, Moki, scrolling through social media, watching football, and traveling.More Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life:The Best Practices Show: https://www.actdental.com/podcast/Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpaUpcoming Events & Workshops: https://www.actdental.com/events/Smile Source: https://www.smilesource.com/Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.comSubscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com
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    33 min
  • 1039: Metric Mondays: Why Are We Producing Well but Still Feel Tight on Cash? - Carlie Einarson

    1039: Metric Mondays: Why Are We Producing Well but Still Feel Tight on Cash? - Carlie Einarson
    Apr 27 2026
    Are you producing at a high level but still feeling tight on cash? In this episode, Kirk Behrendt brings back Carlie Einarson, ACT Dental coach, to explain why strong production doesn’t automatically mean strong cash flow. You’ll learn the two metrics that reveal what’s really happening—collections percentage and AR days—plus the practical steps to tighten your financial systems so the money you’ve earned actually makes it to the bank. Listen to Episode 1039 of The Best Practices Show!Main Takeaways:Strong production does not guarantee strong cash flow because production does not automatically convert to money in the bank.Collections percentage and AR days are two key metrics that reveal why a practice can feel tight on cash even when schedules are full.If you are not collecting 100% of net production, profitability is being impacted and the practice is leaving money on the table.Over-the-counter collections must be consistent, with confident same-day payment conversations at time of service.AR days reflect how long it takes to collect what you’re owed, and the goal is roughly 30 days or less.A clear financial policy and an AR management system reduce delays from patient balances and insurance claims.Improving collections systems can create a cascading effect, including healthier financial behavior, better compliance, and more consistent processes.Snippets:00:00 Producing a lot but still tight on cash—why this happens.02:20 The two metrics that reveal the story: collections percentage and AR days.04:40 What “getting it wrong” looks like when cash doesn’t match production.05:35 Why AR days creep up and how delays compound.07:40 What “getting it right” looks like inside a healthy practice.08:35 Why 95% collections is not acceptable in dental practice management.11:05 Targeting 30 AR days and tightening follow-up systems.12:00 Moving to deposits and collecting in a more consistent process.13:10 Action plan: financial policy alignment and AR management systems.15:00 Where to find BPA resources for financial policies and AR systems.Guest Bio/Guest Resources:Carlie Einarson is a lead practice coach who has a passion for helping others succeed in the dental field. She loves helping to create a stable foundation for practices so both professionals and patients have a great experience every time they walk in the door!Carlie graduated from Utah College of Dental Hygiene. She has ten years of experience in the dental field, including clinical dental hygiene, front office, and leading teams.In her free time, she enjoys spending quality time with loved ones, traveling, skiing, playing volleyball, and golfing.Resources mentioned in this episode:Best Practices Association (BPA) resources and guides:https://www.actdental.com/free-resources/More Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life:The Best Practices Show: https://www.actdental.com/podcast/Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpaUpcoming Events & Workshops: https://www.actdental.com/events/Smile Source: https://www.smilesource.com/Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.comSubscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com
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    17 min
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