Delighted with our first bridge calls of 2006

After a day of 15-minute laser coaching calls, last evening I attended our first client bridge calls of the year.
We hold these once a month, an hour for coaches and an hour for dentists.
The coaches are well versed with the technology and etiquette of a bridge call, so its easy enough for me to “show up” at the top of the hour and after Jen has greeted everyone ask the universal “how can I help?” question.
As always with coaches, the calls are well attended and the questions flow quickly – the hour flashes by.
With the dentists it can be different – they are not so savvy with the technology and, in January, when I have new clients for the coaching year, many of them have never attended a bridge call in their lives.
So last night with the dentists we spent about 5 minutes saying “hello” and another 10 minutes explaining the usual etiquette of name use, quiet rooms and corded phones.
Then comes the bungee jump, where I ask “how can I help?” and the pregnant silence falls.
I was delighted for two reasons last night:
1. the attendance figures on both calls were high – and its great to hear so many dentists when last year’s attendance figures were drifting down;
2. the conversations on both calls were fascinating – I’m especially pleased that my own contribution to the dental call was quite limited – they picked up the baton and ran with it themselves, helping each other with questions on associate profitability, the viability of membership schemes and private conversion.
That’s been a good start to the year.

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Chris Barrow

Chris Barrow has been active as a consultant, trainer and coach to the UK dental profession for over 20 years. As a writer, his blog enjoys a strong following and he is a regular contributor to the dental press. Naturally direct, assertive and determined, he has the ability to reach conclusions quickly, as well as the sharp reflexes and lightness of touch to innovate, change tack and push boundaries. In 2014 he appeared as a “castaway” in the first season of the popular reality TV show “The Island with Bear Grylls”. His main professional focus is as Coach Barrow, providing coaching and mentorship to independent dentistry.