When to Hire a Coach: The $60,000 Decision That Could Transform Your Dental Practice

As dental professionals, we're constantly investing in our practices—new equipment, continuing education, team training. But when was the last time you made a significant investment in yourself as a practitioner? In a recent episode of The Authentic Dentist Podcast, Dr. Allison House shares her vulnerable journey toward hiring a premium coach, raising important questions about authentic dental practice growth and professional development.

The Psychology of Investment in Dental Professional Development

After 24 years in practice, Dr. House finds herself contemplating a $60,000 investment in coaching—her first major personal development investment in 15 years. While she's spent hundreds of thousands on equipment and clinical education, this feels different. "It's not my business so much, but in myself," she explains, highlighting a critical distinction many dentists miss.

The psychology of value plays a crucial role in how we perceive coaching investments. As Dr. House observes, "If you charge a hundred dollars for that denture, does somebody value it the same as they do if you paid $2,000 for the denture? There is a psychological piece for what you pay for something."

Beyond Cookie-Cutter Solutions: Finding Your Authentic Path

One of the most compelling aspects of Dr. House's decision centers on moving beyond generic solutions. "If you're a private practice, your practice is unique," she notes. "It's just never gonna be a cookie cutter because we're not cookie cutter."

This insight speaks to a fundamental challenge in dentistry: while we can learn techniques and frameworks at continuing education events, implementing them successfully requires customization to our unique practice circumstances, patient demographics, and personal working style.

The Implementation Gap

Dr. House identifies a common frustration: "You go and you learn a new clinical thing, but then you can't seem to implement it into your practice because you've realized, okay, I'm missing some kind of equipment. So you buy the equipment and then you find your team doesn't understand what you're talking about."

This implementation gap is where authentic coaching becomes invaluable. Rather than providing one-size-fits-all solutions, effective coaching bridges the space between learning and application, creating sustainable practice transformation.

The Courage to Bet on Yourself

Perhaps the most powerful theme in their conversation is the courage required to invest significantly in personal growth. "The marketplace typically will never value an individual or service higher than you value it yourself," Shawn observes, connecting self-investment to professional success.

Dr. House's reflection reveals a deeper truth: "I feel like everybody at the top of their game has coaches. Like, you can't really get yourself to where you wanna go without somebody helping you."

Overcoming Investment Fear

The fear surrounding significant coaching investments is real and valid. Dr. House admits, "When you get the bill, you're suddenly like, ooh." However, she balances this with her track record: "I've actually never had a coach or a piece of equipment that it wasn't worth it in long run. The first year is always terrible, but it's always been worth it in the long run."

Vetting Your Coach: Due Diligence in Dental Coaching

The episode emphasizes the critical importance of thoroughly vetting potential coaches. Dr. House's approach includes:

• Working within her sphere of dental philosophy (coaches with Spear and Pankey backgrounds)

• Speaking with previous clients about results

• Ensuring personality and communication compatibility

• Verifying expertise alignment with her specific needs

Time Investment and Practice Integration

One unique challenge for dental professionals is time allocation. Unlike business professionals with flexible schedules, dentists face the reality of patient scheduling constraints. Dr. House acknowledges this challenge: "My day is scheduled. I know what time I have to get there. I know who's going to arrive at nine o'clock."

Successful coaching integration requires:

• Strategic scheduling that doesn't compromise patient care

• Understanding the unique demands of dental practice workflow

• Coaches who appreciate the constraints of clinical practice

The Ripple Effect of Professional Investment

Investing in coaching extends beyond personal development. Dr. House recognizes that "my team loves it when I invest in them" and sees coaching as partially fulfilling this need. When practitioners grow, their entire teams benefit from improved systems, enhanced clinical capabilities, and more confident leadership.

Making the Decision: When Fear Meets Opportunity

The episode concludes with Dr. House moving toward her decision, recognizing that growth often requires discomfort. Her reflection on hiring a personal trainer provides insight: "Just the fact that they showed up and made me do things that I didn't want to do affected my physique, it affected my body, and then it affected my mind."

Key Takeaways for Dental Professionals

1. Investment Psychology: High-value coaching creates psychological commitment that drives implementation

2. Customization Necessity: Authentic practice growth requires solutions tailored to your unique circumstances

3. Implementation Focus: The gap between learning and applying is where coaching provides the most value

4. Due Diligence: Thoroughly vetting coaches within your professional sphere reduces risk

5. Time Reality: Successful coaching must account for the constraints of dental practice scheduling

The Authentic Choice

Dr. House's journey illustrates that authentic practice growth often requires moving beyond our comfort zones. Whether the investment is $60,000 or another amount, the principle remains: betting on yourself through quality coaching can be the catalyst for transformation that takes your practice—and your fulfillment—to the next level.

The question isn't whether coaching is worth the investment, but whether you're ready to value yourself highly enough to make the leap. As Dr. House recognizes, sometimes "you just got to take the leap."

Are you considering hiring a coach for your dental practice? What's holding you back, and what would need to be true for you to move forward? Share your thoughts and join the conversation about authentic professional development in dentistry.