Setting the Stage for a Positive and Productive Year Ahead

Have you decided your goals for this year yet? Have you reviewed last year? What went right; what went wrong? 

January went by so fast! Don’t let February get away without getting those goals set and reflecting on this past year. The best way we have found to do this is to have a meeting with your team.

Take some time to do that and you will be amazed at the great ideas that come from that meeting. 

Let’s talk about how to structure the meeting. We want it to be productive, but also inspirational. This is the time to get the whole team excited about the year ahead and all it holds. 

1. Kick the meeting off with a positive tone. Here are some ideas of how to do that:

   1. Talk about your wins from last year. Go around the room and be sure everyone participates. 

   2. Go around the room and have everyone say what they are grateful for…something they appreciate about working there.

   3. Come up with a theme for the year.

2. Now let’s reflect on what happened last year. We want to keep this a positive, short, safe and constructive conversation. 

   1. What worked well last year?

   2. What challenged us?

   3. What do we want more of this year?

3. It’s time to set some goals now. Keep this simple as well. When you start coming up with 20 things to focus on, it is too overwhelming and hard to accomplish any of them. Start with 5 and once those are accomplished, you can have another meeting to set 5 more.

   1. You will of course want to set some production and collection goals. Before doing this, it requires you to look at your practice overhead to determine your BAM so the goals will be in line with what is needed.

   2. Setting a goal for # of new patients or # of Google reviews, are great areas to focus on in your meeting.

   3. Other ideas could be creating, or documenting, new systems and protocols; enhancing the patient experience; personal development.

4. Discuss expectations and accountability. These are designed to protect the culture of your office as well as each team member. The conversation should not be a lecture. It is simply communicating the values of the office and what accountability looks like in your office.

5. Finish the meeting strong with high energy.  We want everyone happy they attended and feel accomplished when leaving. Some offices will have a meal together afterwards, maybe a team photo or a fun game to end.

A planning meeting is more than just an event on your schedule — it gives the team a chance to pause, reset, and start the year with purpose. It’s a time to reconnect to the bigger picture, celebrate successes, and line up around where you’re headed together.

When everyone has clarity and a shared sense of purpose, the year feels less reactive and more intentional. A well thought out planning meeting creates energy, direction, and confidence—setting the stage for a positive and productive year ahead.

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Janice Janssen, RDH, CFE, Consultant

At age 14, Janice Janssen got an after-school job working for her dentist. Twenty-something years later, she is the co-founder of Global Team Solutions and an expert in practice consulting. Besides hands-on experience, Janice has gained professional recognition for her hard work and commitment to excellence. She is co-author of OMG! Office Management Guide, the “bible” used in GTS training workshops. She is a member of the Academy of Dental Management Consultants (ADMC), and is a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), which positions her as an expert in educating dentists to deter fraud and embezzlement in their practice.

Janice can be reached at: janice@gtsgurus.com