Ideas to increase your confidence

Cultivating Dental Confidence: The Venn Diagram of Success

Confidence is not an innate quality; it's a dynamic trait that can be nurtured and developed over time. Do you grappling with self-doubt and lack of confidence or even a feeling of imposter syndrome? If so, it may be helpful to recognise that confidence is not a mysterious trait that some people have and others don’t, instead it is a feeling that happens when 3 key factors collided. Imagine confidence as the central point of a Venn diagram where courage, consistency, and capabilities intersect. In this blog, together ,we will explore how these elements can coalesce to create a profound sense of confidence in yourself and your clinical skills.

Courage: Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone

Courage is the foundation upon which confidence is built. It's the willingness to confront your fears, take risks, and venture into uncharted territory. For dentists, this might involve courage is not an absence of fear, it is acting despite fear. Yes, courage does presuppose vulnerability, you act, feeling the fear, exposing yourself to the risk of both failure and success.

• Introducing New Procedures: Suppose you've always wanted to learn how to place implants and hesitated, paralysed by all the what ifs. Courage is signing up to the training without having the certainty you, can afford it, will love it, there is a market for it.
• Engaging with Patients: Imagine you have a patient that you know would benefit from some splint therapy, courage is initiating a conversation with them to understand from their perspective what the symptoms are and if they would prefer a better outcome.  Starting a conversation without any intention of converting a treatment plan.

Consistency: The Path to Mastery

Consistency is the steady force that propels you forward. It involves setting routines, adhering to best practices, and committing to continuous improvement. A thousand-mile journey starts with the first step, and it is completed by taking step after step until you reach your destination. Remember Aesop’s’ fable, the tortoise won the race because it was focused, and kept going, it was consistent, the hare on the other hand was distracted, got side tracked, inconsistent and lost. Examples include:

• Continuing Education: if you want to learn how to place implants, you must be consistent, regularly attending workshops, webinars, and conferences, networking, doing your homework, and most importantly putting what you learn into action. To know and not to do, is not to know.
• Patient Engagement: If you see patients, who you could help improve their dental function, health, or aesthetics, consistently initiating conversations, asking questions to discover their wants, need and preferences, will pay off. Asking one patient, who says they are happy how they are, even when you can see there is scope for improvement, and then giving up will not get the results, or experience you want or that are best for your patients. Some will say yes, some will say no, you say next please, because for in every conversation that you are curious about your patient’s experience, you are planting a seed, and those seeds take time and consistent nurturing to germinate.

Capabilities: Embracing Competence

Capabilities refer to your skills, expertise, and knowledge. It's about honing your craft to a point where you feel proficient in various aspects of dentistry:

• Mastering Techniques: If you want to place implants you must develop the skills that will make you proficient. You absolutely must master your clinical skills, finding a mentor who can oversee your work, and give your tools to improve and they are not the only skills you need if your goal is to feel confident. I am sure that you recognise your clinical skills need to be matched by your skills in communication, marketing, finances, time management, self-care, mindset management, and team building, etc. becoming a confident dentist requires you to invest in much, much, more than clinical skills and you may wish to look at your annual CPD budget and spend 50% or more time and money on the non-clinical elements of dentistry.
• Effective Communication: Being able to initiate conversations, knowing the right questions to ask, and following a step-by-step procedure that enables you to be certain you have fully empathised and understood your patient, and that you can convey a plan in a way that they connect with you, will require a level of communication skills that are not taught at dental school, when you develop your capabilities mastering interpreting and using body echo’s, vocal intonations, linguistic sub modalities, decoding thinking patterns, modelling syntax and reading eye movements, your depth of understanding and connection will skyrocket, your patients will feel seen, listened to and understood. When your heart and communication are in the right place, those seeds will germinate.

The Intersection of Confidence

Confidence flourishes when courage, consistency, and capabilities converge. Let's consider an example:

Imagine a dentist, Dr Patel, who has always shied away from public speaking, even in their small study club, however, recognising the potential of educational seminars to connect with their community, Dr Patel joins toastmasters and learns how to speak in public (Capability), they bite the bullet and approach local schools, musters the courage (Courage) to present a series of oral health workshops to local children and their parents. Over time, these presentations become a regular event (Consistency), attracting a loyal following of patients eager to join their practice. Dr Patel's in-depth understanding of dental health combined with the ability to present complex topics in an engaging manner, showcases exemplary capabilities. As a result, Dr Patel's confidence soars, enabling better interactions with patients and improved case acceptance.

Conclusion

Confidence is not an enigma reserved for a select few; it's a dynamic quality within everyone's reach. By acknowledging the interconnectedness of courage, consistency, and capabilities, dentists can embark on a journey of self-assurance and professional growth. Whether it's adopting new procedures, cultivating patient relationships, or refining your skills, remember that confidence lies at the intersection of these essential components. Embrace this holistic approach, and watch as your confidence as a dentist flourishes, enriching both your practice and your patient interactions.