As your practice grows, awkward moments stop being rare. Bigger teams and more moving parts create more uncomfortable staff situations, strange patient questions, and conflict you did not see coming. None of it means you are failing, but if you are not ready for it, it can shake your confidence and make leadership feel heavier than it needs to be.
On this week’s episode, the DPH coaches and I break down real situations we have lived through and the moves that actually work. We talk about how to handle awkward moments as the owner, protect your team and culture, and stay calm and steady when things get weird.
A few takeaways you can use immediately:
• Give feedback privately when it is personal.
A joke or correction that feels harmless one on one can create embarrassment and damage trust in front of the team.
• Pay attention to the moments that get quiet.
Silence usually means something real just surfaced, and strong leaders do not rush past it.
• Step in when your team is being disrespected.
Patients often behave differently with the doctor than they do with the rest of the staff, and protecting your team is part of the job.
• Do not avoid awkward conversations.
Most problems get worse when they stay vague, and they get lighter when you name them and address them directly.
We also talk about the line between keeping a patient and keeping your standards, plus a handful of practical moves you can use the next time something weird happens in your practice. If you want a few laughs and real takeaways, go listen to the episode:
Thanks for being here and your continued support of the podcast!
