Unseen Bravery in Dental Management
Have you ever heard, “You are so brave!” or “I don’t know how you do it,” or any of the many other phrases similar to these?
I heard them so many times that I didn’t know how to respond because I never felt brave at the time nor knew exactly how I got through it all—but I did, and so can you!
Challenges Sometimes Help You Change Your Perspective
After an intense two-year period, when life threw everything it could at me, I finally broke. I had the worst anxiety attack while working at my office on a day off, and it left my face numb for several weeks. All the trauma, lack of sleep, running on fumes, and keeping our office running finally caught up to me in a form I could not ignore.
So, I thought it was time to listen, take time out, get some much-needed R&R, and celebrate myself in a different country!
In a matter of 4 weeks, I had booked and planned a 12-day SOLO trip to Greece to celebrate my new start on my journey in life and celebrate my milestone birthday by doing what I love in a country I had always wanted to visit.
I love to travel but had never been internationally solo before, so it brought on new anxiety for me—but in a good way.
That trip forced me to step back and focus on myself, pushing me to do something new and daring. And for the first time, I felt brave and proud of myself.
Recognize Your Bravery
So, how does being brave come into play in our daily routines at our offices and with our teams?
I think we are all brave and may not recognize it because we do what we must do to keep going, finish this project, get those reports done, or take care of whatever fire there is that day in our offices.
It can be low-key bravery to decide to sign up and push yourself in your career to get a new license so you can do a new service at your office or sign up and go for the distinction program to prove to yourself you do know your job. Perhaps you want to improve in some way, or maybe it’s holding your tongue when that next irate patient starts going off on you in person or on the phone.
Sometimes, we have to muster up superhuman bravery for life-altering events that we need to support other people in or be the one in the office to hold a team member when they receive life-shattering news during work hours and then have to guide our teams through the tragedy when it hits within our own offices.
Whether you realize it, everyone is looking to you for guidance and direction.
Others See it Even if You Don’t
Whether you think you are brave or not on a daily basis, know what you do matters.
People are watching how you respond and handle yourself, and they are admiring your strength even if you don’t feel brave or strong.
Any type of bravery can be exhausting, so make sure always to take time for yourself to process it and reward yourself for being brave or doing the thing that takes you out of your comfort zone! You are braver than you feel and stronger than you think!
About the Author
Heather McCann, MAADOM
Heather was on the mission field during college when she became interested in the dental field. After she finished her internship in Haiti, she returned home to complete a dental assisting course and began my dental career in 2005 as an assistant.
In 2007, Heather returned and earned her expanded functions dental assistant certificate. Over the next few years, she cross-trained herself to learn insurance, billing, and all the front office ins and outs.
Heather is a lifetime member of AADOM and received her FAADOM in 2021 and MAADOM in 2023. She earned her DAADOM in 2024.
She is passionate about helping people in all aspects of life and giving back to the community.
