When should a dental practice owner continue coaching a team member, and when is it time to let that person go? In this episode, Kirk Behrendt speaks with Katrina Sanders, a clinical dental hygienist, business owner, and dental educator, about identifying leadership gaps, clarifying expectations, evaluating core-value alignment, and addressing performance problems before they damage the team.

You will learn how to distinguish between employees who lack support and employees who are unwilling to meet expectations, why accountability should never be a surprise, and which behaviors may signal that termination is the right decision. To build a stronger, more aligned team, listen to Episode 1074 of The Best Practices Show!

Main Takeaways:

• Leaders must clearly communicate expectations, standards, and operating procedures before holding team members accountable.
• Core values give team members practical guidance for making decisions and understanding what excellence looks like.
• Practice owners should determine whether inadequate tools, training, calibration, or support are preventing a team member from succeeding.
• Regular scorecards and feedback conversations give employees a clear understanding of whether they are meeting expectations.
• A team member’s lack of motivation may result from toxic team dynamics rather than an absence of drive.
• Employees who reject accountability, remain misaligned with core values, or repeatedly refuse to improve may need to be released.
• Team members should not be surprised by termination when leaders have provided timely feedback, corrective action, and opportunities to improve.

Episode Chapters:

00:00 Intro

01:40 When is it truly time to let a team member go?

04:02 Katrina explains what she discovered after returning from maternity leave.

06:34 Leaders must examine whether expectations were communicated clearly.

12:00 Core values establish practical standards for team behavior.

19:23 Missing tools may be the real cause of poor clinical performance.

20:24 Regular check-ins create a clear line of sight for success.

23:00 Expectations should evolve as team members gain experience.

24:01 Drive, determination, and work ethic cannot always be trained.

26:11 Toxic team dynamics can demotivate otherwise strong employees.

27:48 The “today is the day” conversation allows employees to self-select out.

34:00 Counteroffers may not solve the underlying reason an employee wants to leave.

37:16 Consistently reinforcing core values helps protect the practice culture.

40:31 Katrina identifies the conditions that may justify termination.

43:00 Katrina previews her Pockets, Paradigms and Protocols program.

Guest Bio/Guest Resources:

In the ever-changing world of dental science where research, technology, and techniques for patient care are constantly evolving, dental professionals look to continuing education to provide insight, deliver actionable steps, empower, and create a dramatic impact within their clinical practice.

With wit, charm, and a dash of humor, Katrina Sanders enchants dental professionals with her course deliverables, insightful content, and delightful inspiration. Her message of empowerment rings mighty throughout her lectures and stirs a deep sense of motivation amongst course participants.

Katrina is the Clinical Liaison for AZPerio, the country's largest periodontal practice. She performs clinically, working alongside Diplomates to the American Board of Periodontology in the surgical operatory. Katrina perfected techniques during L.A.N.A.P. surgery, suture placement, IV therapy, and blood draws. She instructs on collaborative professionalism and standard-of-care protocols while delivering education through hygiene boot camps and study clubs.

Resources mentioned:

Website: www.katrinasanders.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedentalwinegenist/

Program: https://katrinasanders.com/speaking/

https://smilesource.com/exchange

More Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life:

The Best Practices Show: https://www.actdental.com/podcast/

Smile Source Community Hub: https://www.actdental.com/community-hub

Upcoming Events & Workshops: https://www.actdental.com/events/

Smile Source: https://www.smilesource.com/

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com

Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com