8 THE ADA PRACTICAL GUIDE TO LEADING AND MANAGING THE DENTAL TEAM the challenges truly are, and provides valuable data to help the dentist rectify the situation. Having a one-on-one conversation away from the entire team also helps strengthen the foundation for a healthy, long-term working relationship between you the individual employee. On the other hand, praise should be handled quite differently. A 2004 study by the Gallup Organization,1 which surveyed more than four million employees across 30 industries, revealed that regular praise and recognition not only increased team member productivity but also led to improved teamwork among co-workers, higher customer service ratings and a greater sense of loyalty to the employer. The best way to ensure your dental team members’ support is to make them feel appreciated. Public praise is a proven strategy to increase morale around the practice and to instill a positive sense of competition among the team members, while private reprimands insulate the team from drama. Look for opportunities to reward your staff, and whether it is for accomplishing an individual goal or reaching a practice milestone, share your team members’ successes with the group as a whole. Public praise is a proven strategy to increase morale around the practice and to instill a positive sense of competition among the team members, while private reprimands insulate the team from drama. 1 “The Power of Praise and Recognition.” Gallup. www.gallup.com/businessjournal/12157/power-praise-recognition. aspx. Last accessed on April 16, 2015.