50 Ways to Accommodate Patients Who are Afraid of the Dentist

Are you nervous about getting a tooth drilled?

If so, you’re not alone. A majority of us have some form of anxiety about going to a dental visit.

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HBO’s Chernobyl, Risk, and the Devil’s Advocates who Kept Us Safe

The Chernobyl nuclear disaster, which affects millions of people to this day, is now available as a 5-part HBO mini-series.

Here is what it taught me about having the courage to speak up.

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Perspective Shifts and My (New) Irish Heritage

March 17 is an American holiday to commemorate St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. Although it was not originally celebrated in Ireland, this day is important to Irish immigrants as a way to remember their heritage.

Happy St Patricks Day
And it’s one that I have never celebrated. Until recently.

As with most oral family histories, mine was shared by relatives who spent time digging through genealogical records. I knew that my Dad’s side was German & English, and my Mom’s side was mostly English (my Grandmother is a descendant of the first King of England, Egbert of Wessex).

But that’s where my identity ended. Mostly English, with a German surname from my Dad’s side.

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How to Avoid Communication that is Sexist and Gender-Specific

We are all familiar with terms that de-value us. Women are especially targeted in business language that is intimidating, bullying, and offensive.

In this post, I’ll share some phrases that are commonly used in business communication but which have the potential to be harmful to your brand.

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Which Titles to Use if You’re an MLM or Direct Sales Rep

We use job titles to communicate our knowledge and expertise.

A job title conveys who we are, what we do, and how we do it… summed up in a few words.

I have noticed a trend in the MLM and Direct Sales community, where reps portray themselves using inaccurate or even deceptive titles. This can be especially destructive in the healthcare industry, because unsuspecting patients are tricked into believing the MLM rep is a qualified healthcare provider.

Sure, it can be fun to design an attention-grabbing title that sets you apart from the crowd (I use the title Strategic Risk Expert); but when it goes too far, your potential customers may be confused at best… and be harmed at worst.

When MLM reps use deceptive titles to diagnose, recommend, or provide medical care, it can result in broken trust, lawsuits, damage… and even death.

In this post, you’ll read a list of titles that are Accurate, Ambiguous, terms that Misrepresent, and some are just plain Ridiculous for MLM reps to use.

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Understanding the Culture of a Company, Part 2: Deeper Culture

Some aspects of a company are easy to see from the outside. These “surface” elements include things like the logo, building, language, and communication style.

But there is also a foundational layer that are an extension of the owner’s beliefs and values.

Let’s explore the mysteries that lie under the surface of a company… the Deeper Culture.

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Understanding the Culture of a Company, Part 1: Surface Culture

A company’s culture goes far beyond what we see on the outside. In this article, I’ll be examining what culture is, how it matters in achieving goals, and which aspects we can see on the “surface.”

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“Employee For a Day”: How to Start

Are your staff afraid to share what is going wrong in your company? Do problems keep happening, and you don’t know why?

A great solution is to step into the roles of your staff and see the situation first-hand.

One fantastic technique is what I call “Employee For a Day.” It is a simple, hands-on activity where an executive leader leaves their role, and she or he sits in the seat of employees to see the organization from their point of view.

In my previous post, I describe what happened when I entered the day-to-day world of my staff. It humbled me, challenged me, and ultimately led to several changes in the organization.

There were a few drawbacks as well. Here are all the dirty details of how to get started.

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