June 5, 2025 • 17 mins
In this episode, Jen puts the spotlight on Savanah - her co-host, longtime friend, and accidental dental lifer. From loathing the dentist to becoming a dental leader, Savanah shares the surprising path that led her from theater and Harry Potter exhibits to managing busy practices and building dental teams. Expect leadership gems, real talk about burnout, and why answering one phone call changed everything. Also, a yellow blazer makes a cameo.
Take your break. You’ve earned it.
Special thanks to Chris Stone of Rock Solid Media!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Jen Steadman (00:02):
Back in 10 is a podcast for dental leaders who do it all
and need 10 minutes to themselves.
Savanah Carlson (00:07):
It's about real conversations, not curated ones, the
kind that happened off the clock behindclosed doors, and between the chaos of
running a practice and running life.
Jen Steadman (00:17):
Hosted by Savanah Carlson and Jen Steadman, two women who've led,
learned, and laughed through it all.
Savanah Carlson (00:24):
This show brings honest stories, leadership truths, and
the occasional sassy take on what itreally means to lead in dentistry today.
Jen Steadman (00:31):
Because sometimes the best leadership happens when
you step away for 10 minutes.
Savanah Carlson (00:36):
This is back in 10.
Jen Steadman (00:44):
Hey everyone, and welcome back to back in 10 with
Savanah Carlson (00:49):
Savanah.
Jen Steadman (00:50):
And Jen.
So on today's episode, you are goingto get to know a little bit more
about my lovely co-host Savanah.
So if you did listen to episode two,I wore this blazer just for Savanah
today because she talked aboutthe first time that we met, I was
wearing yellow blazer and I said,I need to wear it for her today.
(01:14):
So there you go.
This is for you, my friend.
Yes.
Savanah Carlson (01:16):
Oh my God.
But you still have it.
Jen Steadman (01:19):
I know, right?
You can borrow it sometime if you want to.
Yeah, anytime.
Oh, it wouldn't be the first time thatwe matched when we wore something,
so you know, we'll go for it.
Savanah Carlson (01:26):
Sometimes it is a little eerie when we just show up places like
the airport at three in the morningand we're literally in the same exact
black pants, black sweatshirt with ablue jean jacket or a white jean jacket.
But we're always wearing the same exactthing with our white tennis shoes.
Jen Steadman (01:44):
I know it's creepy.
And the same lipstick.
We did that and the same music.
That's another problem that we'llhave to talk about that someday.
Oh lord.
My dear, why don't you tell our listenersa little bit about you and about, how
you got into dentistry and, just tellus a little bit, what do you like to
(02:04):
do outside of, I'm gonna say in yourworld, outside of dentistry, tell us.
Savanah Carlson (02:09):
Sure.
I did not have any interest in thedental world when I was in school.
In fact, I literally loath the dentist.
Although I liked going to my pediatricdentist because he was a looker.
He was fine.
He is gonna listen to this.
I know he is, and it's okay becauseI'm no longer, a child and it's fine.
(02:33):
He made going to thedentist enjoyable, right?
But other than that, I really justdislike the dentist and I had no
intention of getting into dentistry.
I went to a liberal arts collegeand I got a bachelor's of English.
What do you do with aBachelor's of English?
But I also got a Bachelor's of theater.
Jen Steadman (02:54):
Yes, you did.
Savanah Carlson (02:56):
What do you do with a bachelor's in theater?
Who knows?
After I graduated and I worked for WarnerBrother Pictures for Harry Potter here
in Boston, we had the beta exhibitionfor the Harry Potter exhibition.
I know there's one recently here inBoston and everybody was like, oh my
(03:18):
gosh, it's the first time back up.
Back up.
It was not, actually, the first timewas back in 2010 and I was managing it,
so don't I will come at you back up.
Anyway, so yeah, I gotta usemy theater degree doing that.
That was a very cool experience.
That was one of my firstreal world leadership jobs.
(03:43):
I had been working since I was 13years old and it started with a
summer camp in my town and my sisterand I just, are natural leaders.
We led leadership committees in our highschool, and then by the age of 16 I was
running this summer camp of a hundred kidsand 15 to 16 teenagers, my age, staff,
(04:05):
and that was a really great experienceand I owe a lot to my boss then Adrienne,
if you're listening, I absolutelylove you and admire you to death.
She gave me the autonomy tolearn how to be a leader and she.
I was very gentle in her leadershipstyle with corrections and feedback,
(04:25):
and I feel like that's where I builta strong foundation of being able to
get and receive feedback because of hergentleness and willingness to do it right.
So I found that helped me a lot with mymanager position at the Museum of Science
during that exhibition, and I was ableto use my theater degree a lot of fun.
Okay.
But then when that ended, my momand my stepdad were running a dental
(04:48):
practice and they said that, youwanna come in and file some charts.
And I was like, yes, I need money.
And this practice wason paper charts still.
So I would go in at night and filepaper charts, and then I would come in
during the day, later in the afternoon,and there was one afternoon, the
phone just kept ringing and ringing.
The other front desk teammembers were not answering.
(05:12):
They were eating their lunch and/ orsnacking, and one of them was on the
back phone talking to their boyfriend,and the phone was just ringing.
Jen Steadman (05:20):
Phone has to be answered.
Savanah Carlson (05:21):
And so the boldness got ahead of me and I picked up the
phone and I said, hi, this is Savanah.
Thank you for choosing,blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.
How can I help you today?
And I had no idea whatthey were talking about.
They're like, I need to reschedulemy filling appointment for number
31 and number 30, MO and MOD.
And I was like, okay, you know what letme put you on hold for a moment and I
(05:43):
will get the right person who will be ableto help you reschedule that appointment.
And like I told the girl on the back,I'll call her Susie, I'll go, Susie,
there is a patient on the phone.
It was ringing a lot.
Could you help me please?
She said you over the phone now.
And I said.
This is where the grace comes in.
I had to take a breath, see no,but I thought you may need help
(06:06):
because it just kept ringing, Ididn't want the patient to wait.
So they're on hold Ifyou could pick that up.
Okay.
And then I keep filing my group ofcharts and I go to bring in a chart
into the office manager's office andhe said did you just answer the phone?
I was like, freaking great.
I don't officially work in thispractice and I'm already getting a
fired because I answered a phone.
(06:28):
And I said yeah, I did.
I did answer the phone.
And then he said do you wanna job?
Do you wanna work full-time here?
And I said I don't knowanything about dentistry.
And he said, you don'tneed to know dentistry.
You need to know people.
You just answered a phonewithout knowing dentistry.
Did you die?
(06:49):
And I was like no I guess I didn't die.
So yeah.
Okay let's try this, let's do this.
And then I just worked my way up fromevery position in the front desk team.
Check in, check out insurancecoordinator, social media marketer.
Built out a whole adult dentistryside of this practice 'cause
it was a pediatric to start.
(07:09):
And then I transitioned to a newpractice and really blossomed there
and learned all the dentistry I could,and I was very lucky that the dentists
I worked for were also educators andnot just within the dental schools
in Boston, but with their team.
(07:30):
They always promote education andI always loved to work for people
and with people who want to learn.
So I was within the practice foralmost 14 years, 13 to 14 years.
Then I transitioned into a dentalorganization and was a member
service director, and now I'm thedirector of business development for
(07:55):
a local dental management company.
So that is my career.
Jen Steadman (08:00):
Nice.
Savanah Carlson (08:00):
In a nutshell.
Cliff notes, but I still get touse my theater degree because
people love the accents.
Jen Steadman (08:08):
In preparation, I went through the archives of my phone
because I keep every picture andvideo and actually found a video.
We were doing a raffle at astudy club and I said, oh, can
you do an accent for this one?
And you did.
There's multiple accents.
I am that person that when Savanah and Ihave done round tables together, I'm like,
can you do this one in a British accentor could you do this one in this accent?
(08:33):
And she will do it.
I think everyone really enjoysit and thinks that we're a little
bit cuckoo of Coco Puffs at thesame time, but it works, man.
So on that note, I have a question foryou and I would like for you to answer
it like you were at the Harry Potter.
Savanah Carlson (08:46):
Yes.
Love.
Of course.
Jen Steadman (08:48):
So in a dental office as dental leaders, we all wear many hats.
Many of course.
What is the weirdest.
Non-dental skill that you havehad to master through your
role in a dental practice?
Savanah Carlson (09:07):
The weirdest non-dental skill.
Okay, the weirdest one, we did this teambuilding exercise where we are like,
okay, we're gonna write down anythingthat did not go well for us this year.
We're gonna put it in a jar or a ballor jaw and we're gonna light it on fire.
(09:30):
And I had to figure out how to do thatwithout setting off a smoke alarm.
So that's probably the weirdestthing I've had to, master, because
we would do this quite often.
It was like a cleanse ofthe bad juju and, okay.
Other than that, I also was like it.
I was also the plumber,I was also the vacuumer.
(09:52):
I was an interior designer.
That was fun.
You've never done a practice and ifyour dentist trust you with design
work and you get to do that's amazing.
Jen Steadman (10:02):
Complete this sentence for me.
Okay.
You're a dental practice leader when...
Savanah Carlson (10:12):
You know you're a dental practice leader when you eat
your lunch in 10 seconds while talkingto a patient about their insurance and
also going over their $10,000 treatmentplan, which they don't wanna pay for,
but you have to help them also applyfor patient financing, and you have
team members in the back fighting.
Jen Steadman (10:34):
That's a lot.
Chris Stone (10:35):
By the way, Savanah, are you also standing on one leg and patting
your head with one hand while you'reeating your lunch with the other hand?
I'm just curious is that,
Savanah Carlson (10:46):
yeah,
Chris Stone (10:46):
is that part of it?
Savanah Carlson (10:47):
What office managers and even, there are even treatment
coordinators, patient coordinators,the front desk team members.
They're not bound to one title,and truthfully, in the practice,
unless you're an associate dentist,everyone does a lot of everything.
(11:10):
The dentist might be the dentist owner,even associate dentist though too.
It depends on the associate,but it depends on the associate.
True.
But like your dental assistant, she couldalso be in charge of ordering supplies.
She could also be yourHIPAA compliancy officer.
Your social media coordinator couldalso be your insurance coordinator.
(11:31):
There are multiple hats that everyonewears, and honestly, that was not the only
one to have to do all of that at once.
Jen Steadman (11:41):
Oh, yeah.
Savanah Carlson (11:43):
At the same time.
I hope you weren't looking for a one wordanswer because it was not gonna happen.
Jen Steadman (11:48):
No, I would never expect that.
No.
Chris Stone (11:53):
I'll just say this.
In working and having worked with bothof you over the course of the last
several years, I have learned thatthere are no such things as one word
answers, and it's phenomenally fantastic.
Jen Steadman (12:09):
Thanks Chris.
A wizard.
Savanah Carlson (12:11):
You know what Chris?
If you get a one wordanswer, you better run.
Chris Stone (12:16):
Yeah, I was gonna say.
I better run and hide.
Savanah Carlson (12:18):
Yeah.
One word answers from any officemanager is a sign of doom.
There's something going on.
Not geared towards you necessarily.
Jen Steadman (12:28):
No.
No.
Like
Savanah Carlson (12:30):
it's about to go down.
Yes.
Okay.
If there's a.
Chris Stone (12:34):
So I have a question.
I'm gonna build offthat real quick, right?
What should someone inthe dental practice do?
Let's say I am the treatmentcoordinator, right?
And I come to you, Jen, andI say, I ask a question and
you give me a one word answer.
Jen Steadman (12:51):
Yep.
Chris Stone (12:52):
But the question I have is a very serious question
that I need you to help me with.
What do I, what should I do?
Jen Steadman (12:58):
You could ask, is there something that I can do to support you?
As leaders, we are veryrarely asked that question.
We're always the one that's asking it.
We're never the ones who isthe recipient of that question.
Sometimes your leader just needs a bone.
They need you to say, is theresomething that I can do to help you?
Is there something that I cando to support you right now?
(13:20):
Can I take anything off of your plate?
'cause there might not be.
Just the fact that you asked is gonna makehim take a break and take a breath for a
second, and maybe they need to step awayand go listen to a podcast for 10 minutes.
Maybe they need to step awayand go get some water, or go get
some tea or coffee or anything.
(13:43):
They need a moment.
And if you don't have a signal orsomething to tell each other that.
You're having a moment you need just ask.
Ask what you can do to support them.
Okay, Savanah, one lastquestion for you, my dear.
What are you hoping that ourlisteners get from this podcast?
(14:05):
A break.
Savanah Carlson (14:07):
I hope listeners get a break.
I hope that things that we discuss onhere it helps them become more efficient
and energetic about what they're doing,that they're able to take the break.
Take your break.
You deserve your break, even ifyou're only afforded five minute
(14:29):
breaks, depending on your state.
Please check your state laws.
First and foremost.
Everyone needs to abideby their state laws.
If you do not have an HR company,we can recommend some for you.
Yes.
But if you are the sole HR person, sure.
You know your employeeloss for your state.
When it comes to breaks andtime off, especially time off,
(14:50):
we will talk a lot about PTO.
Everyone knows I'm an advocatefor PTO, I will get on a soapbox.
You work to live, you do not live to work.
You need to enjoy what you do.
So that means taking your break.
Remembering you're a human being.
You're not a.
You're on a robot and and also rerecognizing that for your team.
(15:14):
Your team, they are your team.
You're thriving from each other.
They're not your robots.
Yeah.
Not your robot.
Yeah.
Absolutely.
And anyone, I hope that they weren't,they take the break or like maybe you
need to just float away for five minutes.
Yes.
And you know you could do that though.
Jen Steadman (15:34):
You could clock out and listen to back in town.
Right?
There you go.
And thank you for that becausewe're clocking out on this episode.
So BRB, we'll see you later.
Everyone.
BRB,
Chris Stone (15:47):
I'm a genius.
Savanah Carlson (15:48):
Oh my God, that was a blazer of where I fell in love with
Jennifer Steadman, office manager.
Thanks for spending a fewminutes with us on back in 10.
Jen Steadman (16:00):
If something made you laugh, nod or feel a little more
human, share it with a friend andmake sure that you're subscribed.
Savanah Carlson (16:07):
You can also follow us on Instagram at Back in
10 Pod for more behind the scenesupdates and probably a little chaos.
Jen Steadman (16:14):
We're not here to have it all figured out.
We are just here to tell you the thingsthat we wish someone had told us.
Savanah Carlson (16:21):
And remind you that leadership doesn't
have to be perfect, just real.
We'll be back in 10 in.
Back in 10 is a podcast for dental leaders who do it all
and need 10 minutes to themselves.
Savanah Carlson (00:07):
It's about real conversations, not curated ones, the
kind that happened off the clock behindclosed doors, and between the chaos of
running a practice and running life.
Jen Steadman (00:17):
Hosted by Savanah Carlson and Jen Steadman, two women who've led,
learned, and laughed through it all.
Savanah Carlson (00:24):
This show brings honest stories, leadership truths, and
the occasional sassy take on what itreally means to lead in dentistry today.
Jen Steadman (00:31):
Because sometimes the best leadership happens when
you step away for 10 minutes.
Savanah Carlson (00:36):
This is back in 10.
Jen Steadman (00:44):
Hey everyone, and welcome back to back in 10 with
Savanah Carlson (00:49):
Savanah.
Jen Steadman (00:50):
And Jen.
So on today's episode, you are goingto get to know a little bit more
about my lovely co-host Savanah.
So if you did listen to episode two,I wore this blazer just for Savanah
today because she talked aboutthe first time that we met, I was
wearing yellow blazer and I said,I need to wear it for her today.
(01:14):
So there you go.
This is for you, my friend.
Yes.
Savanah Carlson (01:16):
Oh my God.
But you still have it.
Jen Steadman (01:19):
I know, right?
You can borrow it sometime if you want to.
Yeah, anytime.
Oh, it wouldn't be the first time thatwe matched when we wore something,
so you know, we'll go for it.
Savanah Carlson (01:26):
Sometimes it is a little eerie when we just show up places like
the airport at three in the morningand we're literally in the same exact
black pants, black sweatshirt with ablue jean jacket or a white jean jacket.
But we're always wearing the same exactthing with our white tennis shoes.
Jen Steadman (01:44):
I know it's creepy.
And the same lipstick.
We did that and the same music.
That's another problem that we'llhave to talk about that someday.
Oh lord.
My dear, why don't you tell our listenersa little bit about you and about, how
you got into dentistry and, just tellus a little bit, what do you like to
(02:04):
do outside of, I'm gonna say in yourworld, outside of dentistry, tell us.
Savanah Carlson (02:09):
Sure.
I did not have any interest in thedental world when I was in school.
In fact, I literally loath the dentist.
Although I liked going to my pediatricdentist because he was a looker.
He was fine.
He is gonna listen to this.
I know he is, and it's okay becauseI'm no longer, a child and it's fine.
(02:33):
He made going to thedentist enjoyable, right?
But other than that, I really justdislike the dentist and I had no
intention of getting into dentistry.
I went to a liberal arts collegeand I got a bachelor's of English.
What do you do with aBachelor's of English?
But I also got a Bachelor's of theater.
Jen Steadman (02:54):
Yes, you did.
Savanah Carlson (02:56):
What do you do with a bachelor's in theater?
Who knows?
After I graduated and I worked for WarnerBrother Pictures for Harry Potter here
in Boston, we had the beta exhibitionfor the Harry Potter exhibition.
I know there's one recently here inBoston and everybody was like, oh my
(03:18):
gosh, it's the first time back up.
Back up.
It was not, actually, the first timewas back in 2010 and I was managing it,
so don't I will come at you back up.
Anyway, so yeah, I gotta usemy theater degree doing that.
That was a very cool experience.
That was one of my firstreal world leadership jobs.
(03:43):
I had been working since I was 13years old and it started with a
summer camp in my town and my sisterand I just, are natural leaders.
We led leadership committees in our highschool, and then by the age of 16 I was
running this summer camp of a hundred kidsand 15 to 16 teenagers, my age, staff,
(04:05):
and that was a really great experienceand I owe a lot to my boss then Adrienne,
if you're listening, I absolutelylove you and admire you to death.
She gave me the autonomy tolearn how to be a leader and she.
I was very gentle in her leadershipstyle with corrections and feedback,
(04:25):
and I feel like that's where I builta strong foundation of being able to
get and receive feedback because of hergentleness and willingness to do it right.
So I found that helped me a lot with mymanager position at the Museum of Science
during that exhibition, and I was ableto use my theater degree a lot of fun.
Okay.
But then when that ended, my momand my stepdad were running a dental
(04:48):
practice and they said that, youwanna come in and file some charts.
And I was like, yes, I need money.
And this practice wason paper charts still.
So I would go in at night and filepaper charts, and then I would come in
during the day, later in the afternoon,and there was one afternoon, the
phone just kept ringing and ringing.
The other front desk teammembers were not answering.
(05:12):
They were eating their lunch and/ orsnacking, and one of them was on the
back phone talking to their boyfriend,and the phone was just ringing.
Jen Steadman (05:20):
Phone has to be answered.
Savanah Carlson (05:21):
And so the boldness got ahead of me and I picked up the
phone and I said, hi, this is Savanah.
Thank you for choosing,blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.
How can I help you today?
And I had no idea whatthey were talking about.
They're like, I need to reschedulemy filling appointment for number
31 and number 30, MO and MOD.
And I was like, okay, you know what letme put you on hold for a moment and I
(05:43):
will get the right person who will be ableto help you reschedule that appointment.
And like I told the girl on the back,I'll call her Susie, I'll go, Susie,
there is a patient on the phone.
It was ringing a lot.
Could you help me please?
She said you over the phone now.
And I said.
This is where the grace comes in.
I had to take a breath, see no,but I thought you may need help
(06:06):
because it just kept ringing, Ididn't want the patient to wait.
So they're on hold Ifyou could pick that up.
Okay.
And then I keep filing my group ofcharts and I go to bring in a chart
into the office manager's office andhe said did you just answer the phone?
I was like, freaking great.
I don't officially work in thispractice and I'm already getting a
fired because I answered a phone.
(06:28):
And I said yeah, I did.
I did answer the phone.
And then he said do you wanna job?
Do you wanna work full-time here?
And I said I don't knowanything about dentistry.
And he said, you don'tneed to know dentistry.
You need to know people.
You just answered a phonewithout knowing dentistry.
Did you die?
(06:49):
And I was like no I guess I didn't die.
So yeah.
Okay let's try this, let's do this.
And then I just worked my way up fromevery position in the front desk team.
Check in, check out insurancecoordinator, social media marketer.
Built out a whole adult dentistryside of this practice 'cause
it was a pediatric to start.
(07:09):
And then I transitioned to a newpractice and really blossomed there
and learned all the dentistry I could,and I was very lucky that the dentists
I worked for were also educators andnot just within the dental schools
in Boston, but with their team.
(07:30):
They always promote education andI always loved to work for people
and with people who want to learn.
So I was within the practice foralmost 14 years, 13 to 14 years.
Then I transitioned into a dentalorganization and was a member
service director, and now I'm thedirector of business development for
(07:55):
a local dental management company.
So that is my career.
Jen Steadman (08:00):
Nice.
Savanah Carlson (08:00):
In a nutshell.
Cliff notes, but I still get touse my theater degree because
people love the accents.
Jen Steadman (08:08):
In preparation, I went through the archives of my phone
because I keep every picture andvideo and actually found a video.
We were doing a raffle at astudy club and I said, oh, can
you do an accent for this one?
And you did.
There's multiple accents.
I am that person that when Savanah and Ihave done round tables together, I'm like,
can you do this one in a British accentor could you do this one in this accent?
(08:33):
And she will do it.
I think everyone really enjoysit and thinks that we're a little
bit cuckoo of Coco Puffs at thesame time, but it works, man.
So on that note, I have a question foryou and I would like for you to answer
it like you were at the Harry Potter.
Savanah Carlson (08:46):
Yes.
Love.
Of course.
Jen Steadman (08:48):
So in a dental office as dental leaders, we all wear many hats.
Many of course.
What is the weirdest.
Non-dental skill that you havehad to master through your
role in a dental practice?
Savanah Carlson (09:07):
The weirdest non-dental skill.
Okay, the weirdest one, we did this teambuilding exercise where we are like,
okay, we're gonna write down anythingthat did not go well for us this year.
We're gonna put it in a jar or a ballor jaw and we're gonna light it on fire.
(09:30):
And I had to figure out how to do thatwithout setting off a smoke alarm.
So that's probably the weirdestthing I've had to, master, because
we would do this quite often.
It was like a cleanse ofthe bad juju and, okay.
Other than that, I also was like it.
I was also the plumber,I was also the vacuumer.
(09:52):
I was an interior designer.
That was fun.
You've never done a practice and ifyour dentist trust you with design
work and you get to do that's amazing.
Jen Steadman (10:02):
Complete this sentence for me.
Okay.
You're a dental practice leader when...
Savanah Carlson (10:12):
You know you're a dental practice leader when you eat
your lunch in 10 seconds while talkingto a patient about their insurance and
also going over their $10,000 treatmentplan, which they don't wanna pay for,
but you have to help them also applyfor patient financing, and you have
team members in the back fighting.
Jen Steadman (10:34):
That's a lot.
Chris Stone (10:35):
By the way, Savanah, are you also standing on one leg and patting
your head with one hand while you'reeating your lunch with the other hand?
I'm just curious is that,
Savanah Carlson (10:46):
yeah,
Chris Stone (10:46):
is that part of it?
Savanah Carlson (10:47):
What office managers and even, there are even treatment
coordinators, patient coordinators,the front desk team members.
They're not bound to one title,and truthfully, in the practice,
unless you're an associate dentist,everyone does a lot of everything.
(11:10):
The dentist might be the dentist owner,even associate dentist though too.
It depends on the associate,but it depends on the associate.
True.
But like your dental assistant, she couldalso be in charge of ordering supplies.
She could also be yourHIPAA compliancy officer.
Your social media coordinator couldalso be your insurance coordinator.
(11:31):
There are multiple hats that everyonewears, and honestly, that was not the only
one to have to do all of that at once.
Jen Steadman (11:41):
Oh, yeah.
Savanah Carlson (11:43):
At the same time.
I hope you weren't looking for a one wordanswer because it was not gonna happen.
Jen Steadman (11:48):
No, I would never expect that.
No.
Chris Stone (11:53):
I'll just say this.
In working and having worked with bothof you over the course of the last
several years, I have learned thatthere are no such things as one word
answers, and it's phenomenally fantastic.
Jen Steadman (12:09):
Thanks Chris.
A wizard.
Savanah Carlson (12:11):
You know what Chris?
If you get a one wordanswer, you better run.
Chris Stone (12:16):
Yeah, I was gonna say.
I better run and hide.
Savanah Carlson (12:18):
Yeah.
One word answers from any officemanager is a sign of doom.
There's something going on.
Not geared towards you necessarily.
Jen Steadman (12:28):
No.
No.
Like
Savanah Carlson (12:30):
it's about to go down.
Yes.
Okay.
If there's a.
Chris Stone (12:34):
So I have a question.
I'm gonna build offthat real quick, right?
What should someone inthe dental practice do?
Let's say I am the treatmentcoordinator, right?
And I come to you, Jen, andI say, I ask a question and
you give me a one word answer.
Jen Steadman (12:51):
Yep.
Chris Stone (12:52):
But the question I have is a very serious question
that I need you to help me with.
What do I, what should I do?
Jen Steadman (12:58):
You could ask, is there something that I can do to support you?
As leaders, we are veryrarely asked that question.
We're always the one that's asking it.
We're never the ones who isthe recipient of that question.
Sometimes your leader just needs a bone.
They need you to say, is theresomething that I can do to help you?
Is there something that I cando to support you right now?
(13:20):
Can I take anything off of your plate?
'cause there might not be.
Just the fact that you asked is gonna makehim take a break and take a breath for a
second, and maybe they need to step awayand go listen to a podcast for 10 minutes.
Maybe they need to step awayand go get some water, or go get
some tea or coffee or anything.
(13:43):
They need a moment.
And if you don't have a signal orsomething to tell each other that.
You're having a moment you need just ask.
Ask what you can do to support them.
Okay, Savanah, one lastquestion for you, my dear.
What are you hoping that ourlisteners get from this podcast?
(14:05):
A break.
Savanah Carlson (14:07):
I hope listeners get a break.
I hope that things that we discuss onhere it helps them become more efficient
and energetic about what they're doing,that they're able to take the break.
Take your break.
You deserve your break, even ifyou're only afforded five minute
(14:29):
breaks, depending on your state.
Please check your state laws.
First and foremost.
Everyone needs to abideby their state laws.
If you do not have an HR company,we can recommend some for you.
Yes.
But if you are the sole HR person, sure.
You know your employeeloss for your state.
When it comes to breaks andtime off, especially time off,
(14:50):
we will talk a lot about PTO.
Everyone knows I'm an advocatefor PTO, I will get on a soapbox.
You work to live, you do not live to work.
You need to enjoy what you do.
So that means taking your break.
Remembering you're a human being.
You're not a.
You're on a robot and and also rerecognizing that for your team.
(15:14):
Your team, they are your team.
You're thriving from each other.
They're not your robots.
Yeah.
Not your robot.
Yeah.
Absolutely.
And anyone, I hope that they weren't,they take the break or like maybe you
need to just float away for five minutes.
Yes.
And you know you could do that though.
Jen Steadman (15:34):
You could clock out and listen to back in town.
Right?
There you go.
And thank you for that becausewe're clocking out on this episode.
So BRB, we'll see you later.
Everyone.
BRB,
Chris Stone (15:47):
I'm a genius.
Savanah Carlson (15:48):
Oh my God, that was a blazer of where I fell in love with
Jennifer Steadman, office manager.
Thanks for spending a fewminutes with us on back in 10.
Jen Steadman (16:00):
If something made you laugh, nod or feel a little more
human, share it with a friend andmake sure that you're subscribed.
Savanah Carlson (16:07):
You can also follow us on Instagram at Back in
10 Pod for more behind the scenesupdates and probably a little chaos.
Jen Steadman (16:14):
We're not here to have it all figured out.
We are just here to tell you the thingsthat we wish someone had told us.
Savanah Carlson (16:21):
And remind you that leadership doesn't
have to be perfect, just real.
We'll be back in 10 in.
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