The dental industry is one of the fastest-growing industries in the United States, with an expected growth rate of 20% from 2020 to 2030. As the industry continues to grow, so does the demand for qualified dental staff. 

And as a dentist, you know that hiring the right staff is crucial to the success of your practice. But what qualities should you look for in potential hires beyond their technical skills and qualifications? 

Increasingly, dental practices prioritize soft skills – personal attributes and social abilities – when hiring new staff members.

This article will explore why soft skills matter in dental staffing, specifically in front-office and back-office admin roles, and provide actionable advice for hiring managers.

The Importance of Soft Skills in Dental Staffing

According to a National Association of Dental Laboratories survey, the top three factors influencing patient satisfaction are communication with staff, friendliness, and the quality of care provided.

All three of these factors are directly related to the soft skills of dental staff members. Patients want to feel that they are being listened to, that their needs are being met, and that they are treated with kindness and respect.

 Staff members with solid soft skills can better provide this level of care and improve patient satisfaction.

In addition to improving patient satisfaction, staff members with strong soft skills can also help improve the dental practice’s overall functioning.

For example, staff members skilled in communication and teamwork can help prevent misunderstandings and miscommunications, reducing the likelihood of errors or delays in patient care. 

Staff members who are adaptable and able to think on their feet can help to handle unexpected situations, such as a patient experiencing a medical emergency in the office. 

And detail-oriented staff members can help ensure that patient records and billing are accurate, reducing the likelihood of errors and improving the practice’s financial health.

While technical skills are crucial for dental staff, soft skills often determine whether a new hire will succeed. Soft skills are those personal qualities and interpersonal abilities that enable people to communicate effectively, work collaboratively, and adapt to change. 

So, what are the critical soft skills that dental practices should look for when hiring staff members? 

Here are a few of the most important.

Communication Skills

Effective communication is critical in dental settings, where staff must interact with patients, colleagues, and suppliers. Good communication skills allow dental staff to explain procedures and treatments to patients, answer their questions, and provide reassurance. 

In addition, dental staff need to communicate effectively with colleagues to ensure that patient care is coordinated and efficient.

Customer Service Skills

Dental patients are looking for a positive experience when they visit the practice. Staff members with excellent customer service skills can help create a warm and welcoming environment, improving patient satisfaction and loyalty. 

This is especially important for front-office staff, who are often patients’ first point of contact.

Teamwork Skills

Dental practices rely on effective teamwork to provide high-quality care to patients. Staff members who can collaborate with others, share information, and support their colleagues can help to ensure that patient care is consistent and comprehensive.

Adaptability

The dental industry constantly evolves, with new technologies and procedures always emerging. Staff members who are adaptable and willing to learn new skills can help to keep the practice up-to-date and competitive.

Attention to Detail

In the dental industry, even small mistakes can have significant consequences. Staff members who pay close attention to detail can help to prevent errors and ensure that patient care is safe and effective.

The Benefits of Hiring for Soft Skills

Hiring staff members with strong soft skills has numerous benefits for dental practices. 

First, staff members with good communication skills can help to build strong relationships with patients, leading to higher patient satisfaction and retention. 

In addition, adaptable staff members who are willing to learn can help keep the practice up-to-date with the latest technologies and procedures, improving patient outcomes and boosting the practice’s reputation. 

Finally, staff members with good customer service skills can create a positive and welcoming environment that can attract new patients.

Actionable Advice for Hiring Managers

So, how can hiring managers prioritize soft skills when recruiting for dental staff? Here are some actionable tips:

Create Clear Job Descriptions

When creating job descriptions for dental staff, include information about the essential soft skills for the role. For example, you might include requirements for excellent customer service skills and communication abilities for a front-office position. 

This can help attract candidates with the necessary soft skills while also ensuring that candidates understand what’s expected of them in the role.

Use Behavioral Interview Techniques

Behavioral interviewing is a technique that can help hiring managers assess a candidate’s soft skills by asking them to describe specific situations they’ve faced and how they’ve handled them. 

For example, you might ask a candidate to describe when they had to deal with a difficult patient and how they managed the situation. 

This can give you insights into the candidate’s communication, customer service, adaptability, and problem-solving abilities.

Look Beyond the Resume

While resumes are essential to the hiring process, they don’t always provide a complete picture of a candidate’s soft skills. 

To better understand a candidate’s interpersonal abilities, consider asking for references or conducting phone screenings before inviting them for an in-person interview. 

This can help you to weed out candidates who may not have the necessary soft skills for the role.

Use Personality Tests

Personality tests can help identify candidates with the right mix of soft skills for the role. Various personality tests are available, from the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator to the DISC assessment. 

These tests can help you understand a candidate’s communication style, work preferences, and problem-solving abilities, giving you a complete picture of their fit for the role.

Use Pre-Employment Assessments

Pre-employment assessments can be practical for evaluating a candidate’s soft skills. 

These assessments can provide insight into the candidate’s personality traits and other complex soft skills that are difficult to assess through traditional interviewing.

Check References Carefully

When checking a candidate’s references, ask specific questions about the candidate’s soft skills.

 Ask previous employers or colleagues about the candidate’s communication skills, teamwork abilities, and other critical soft skills for the role.

Provide Training and Development Opportunities

Even if a candidate has strong soft skills, there may be areas where they could improve. 

Providing training and development opportunities for staff members can help to improve their soft skills, as well as their technical abilities. 

Consider offering training in customer service, communication, or teamwork, depending on the needs of your staff.

Consider Using Remote Team Members

In addition to these strategies, dental practices can partner with staffing and workforce management solutions providers, such as Edge, to streamline the hiring process and ensure that they hire candidates with strong soft skills. 

Edge’s comprehensive approach to dental staffing includes a rigorous screening and evaluation process to identify candidates with the necessary technical and soft skills and ongoing support and training to ensure that staff members continue to provide high-quality care.

Conclusion

In conclusion, hiring for personality and soft skills is just as important as hiring for technical skills when staffing a successful dental practice. 

Patients expect high-quality care, effective communication, and friendly service from dental staff members, all of which require strong soft skills. 

By prioritizing soft skills in the hiring process and using effective strategies to assess these skills, dental practices can improve patient satisfaction, reduce errors and delays, and create a more positive and productive work environment for staff members. Partnering with a staffing and workforce management solutions provider, such as Edge, can help dental practices access the best possible talent and support to achieve their goals.

Dental practices can also save time and reduce the stress of the hiring process while building a team of staff members who will help drive the practice’s success.