Learning doesn’t have to be boring!

Throughout my career I have been fortunate enough to be involved with helping to develop dental teams to meet their full potential. Whenever I meet the most successful teams I am always amazed at the motivation, energy and remarkably high morale that these dedicated teams demonstrate. I wonder what is their big secret?  Could it be high salaries, financial bonuses, job status, a secret magic elixir, a funky pill?

The simple answer is that all of the most successful practices that I’ve worked with over the years understand the five key internal motivators of their teams. These are:

• Achievement
• Recognition of achievement
• Growth and advancement
• Responsibility
• Enjoyment of the job

They achieve this by learning together and through learning together they discover how to play together.

Learning through play

It is a strange thing about our modern society that we consider play to be the opposite of work; we are either playing, or we are working. Very often playing is considered to be unprofessional, unhelpful and unproductive – but how true is this? 

Let’s take a step back for a moment and look at some of the challenges facing dental teams today:

• CQC
• CPD Cycles
• HTM 01-05
• Compliance

These are but a few of the many different challenges that are facing the profession, and the list can often seem endless. But I wonder, what would happen if we make these challenges fun, playful and exciting? Would the whole dental team be more inclined to get involved?

Experience tells me that by focussing on delivering training and compliance in a fun, interactive and inclusive way practice teams are more likely to take in important information and are more likely to engage with the whole process. Wouldn’t this take some of the pain out of compliance and CPD?

Whole brain learning

You may have experienced in the past the type of training that uses PowerPoint and nothing else, but what does this really teach you?  How much do you really take in? The very best CPD training encompasses a concept known as ‘whole brain learning’. This may incorporate imagination, pictures, randomness – all things associated with the right side of the brain – together with logic, reasoning and analysis that is associated with the left side. This type of ‘whole brain’ learning is particularly effective and as it’s been proven to show that information is taken in faster and is retained for longer. It has also been proven that this type of learning means that knowledge is also recalled more easily.

What this shows us more than anything is that learning doesn’t have to be boring! Training providers should encourage teams to innovate, and should embrace fun with their group activities in order to not only improve learning, but also to encourage better teamwork and cooperation between team members.

At dbg we enjoy creating innovative and engaging learning environments where all viewpoints and mistakes are acknowledged and valued as a way to learn; demonstrating how to conduct reflective practice as a team. Don’t forget as GDC registered professionals it is our duty to reflect and improve on our systems, policies and practices, and the CQC wants us to demonstrate this in its Outcomes. As such there is absolutely nothing wrong with learning in an interesting and engaging way – if anything it makes us better at our jobs.

Communication is key

When it comes to training, the very best providers will always listen to the views and needs of the practice team. This is because they will understand the challenges that you face on a daily basis and will fully appreciate that each and every dental practice is different and will work in different ways. Only by listening carefully and working together with you will your training provider be able to help your team achieve its full potential.

As Brenda Ueland once said:

‘Listening is a magnetic and strange thing, a creative force.  When we really listen to people there is an alternating current, and this recharges us so that we never get tired of each other. We are constantly being recreated.’

Committed to you

At dbg we are dedicated to supporting dental teams across the UK, providing complete solutions to help in every area of the practice. Crucially, our commitment to dental teams does not stop after CPD training; it continues with dedicated Practice Support Managers that want to help you and your team achieve your full potential. To find out more, contact dbg today. Membership is £330 per year, and gives you access to offers and discounts on all our services, as well as a free compliance helpline and free compliance software.

For more information call dbg on 01606 861 950,

Or visit www.thedbg.co.uk

About the author:

Claire Deegan is a Practice Support Manager at dbg, delivering training and supporting practices to become compliant. She has 20 years’ experience in dentistry and has a passion for team development and motivational speaking.