Back in 10

"I'm exhausted."
"I hate this job."
"We're understaffed."
"I'm doing the work of three people."
"I need a vacation."
We've gotten really comfortable calling all of it burnout. But is it?
In this episode of Back in 10, Jen and Savanah dig into what burnout actually means and why labeling every hard season, stressful week, or frustrating workplace experience as burnout can keep us from identifying the real problem.
Is it burnout? Bad leadership? Broken systems? Lack of accountability? An impossible workload? Or have you simply outgrown the job?
Because burnout isn't just being tired. It's what can happen when chronic workplace stress goes unmanaged long enough that exhaustion turns into detachment and you start wondering whether the work you're doing even matters.
And for leaders, calling it "burnout" isn't enough. We have to get curious about what's causing it.
Before you plan the pizza party, fix the problem.

This one wasn't planned.
What started as an off-the-cuff conversation about expectations and accountability quickly turned into Jen sharing her own experience working within a DSO and what can happen when performance goals, KPIs, and financial pressure start driving the conversation.
This isn't an episode about what every DSO gets right or wrong. It's one leader's experience and an honest conversation about what she saw from the inside.
Jen and Savanah talk about what happens when high-performing practices are continually asked to do more, whether goals are always as attainable as they look on paper, the pressure that can land on practice and regional leaders, and why focusing only on financial KPIs can cause us to lose sight of the people behind them.
Because yes, the numbers tell a story.
But are we paying attention to the right numbers?
No agenda. No perfectly packaged lesson. Just an off-the-cuff conversation that went somewhere we didn't expect.

You know the conversation needs to happen.
But what if they quit?
In today's hiring market, that's the fear many dental leaders carry every single day. You know someone isn't meeting expectations, but the thought of losing another team member makes accountability feel impossible.
In this episode of Back in 10, Jen and Savanah unpack one of the biggest leadership challenges in dentistry: how to hold people accountable without leading from fear.
They discuss:
Why accountability has gotten such a bad reputation
How fear changes the standards leaders are willing to uphold
Why clear expectations should always come before consequences
How to approach accountability as a conversation—not a conflict
The importance of giving your team the tools they need to succeed
Why protecting your culture sometimes means having the conversation you're trying to avoid
Because accountability isn't about catching people doing something wrong.
It's about helping great people succeed by making expectations impossible to misunderstand.

Your career is made up of thousands of little decisions. This episode is all about picking a side.
In this edition of This or That, Jen and Savanah tackle some of the biggest career questions dental leaders face:
• Mentor or coach?• Networking or skill building?• Job security or growth opportunity?• Work smarter or work harder?• Personal brand or company brand?
What starts as a fun round of quick choices turns into a deeper conversation about career growth, professional identity, and one question every leader should ask themselves:
If someone asked who you are… would you describe yourself, or where you work?
Grab your favorite drink, pick your side, and let us know where you land.

The doctor knows there's a problem.
The team knows there's a problem.
You know there's a problem.
...but no one is making the decision.
In this episode of Back in 10, Jen and Savanah tackle one of the most frustrating realities of dental leadership: what happens when you're expected to lead the practice, but the doctor avoids the tough conversations and final decisions.
They discuss why avoidance is still a decision, how indecision quietly damages culture, what office managers can do to influence without overstepping, and how to stop losing credibility when you're caught in the middle.
If you've ever found yourself saying, "I'll have to talk to the doctor," while wondering if anything will actually change, this episode is for you.
Because great leadership isn't about avoiding conflict. It's about having the courage to make the decision.

Leadership decisions, but make them fast.
In this quick round of This or That, we’re picking sides on some big leadership questions with very little time to overthink them.
Lead by example or lead by vision?
Accountability or empathy?
Respected or liked?
Tough conversations or tough decisions?
Unlimited time or unlimited money?
And yes, Jen immediately tries to choose both. Because apparently that’s how This or That works now.
This one is short, a little chaotic, and definitely not a leadership masterclass. Just two friends comparing how they lead, where they agree, and why some choices are harder than they look.
Quick episode. Big opinions. Let’s go.

Welcome to another round of This or That!
This time, we're tackling one of our favorite topics: managing people.
Should you hire for attitude or experience? Promote from within or hire externally? Build policies with flexibility or hold the line? These are the kinds of decisions leaders make every day, and spoiler alert... we don't agree on all of them.
In this episode, we debate:
Hire for attitude vs. hire for experience
Promote from within vs. hire externally
Team consensus vs. leadership decisions
Flexible policies vs. firm policies
Fire fast vs. coach longer
Along the way, we share personal leadership stories, lessons learned the hard way, and why there isn't always a perfect answer.
Because great management isn't about making everyone happy.
It's about making thoughtful decisions that support your team, your patients, and your practice.

Welcome back to our This or That series!
This time, we're tackling office culture. The little decisions that can have a big impact on your team, your leadership, and the environment you create every day.
Fair warning... there are definitely a few clutch your pearls moments in this one.
We debate:
Team lunch or team happy hour?
Employee of the Month or peer recognition?
Team-building activity or volunteer day?
Work friends or professional boundaries?
Plus a rapid-fire round featuring conference swag, Disney vs. Universal, name badges, books vs. podcasts, and more!
Along the way, we share real examples from our own leadership journeys, practical ideas you can bring back to your practice, and maybe a few opinions you'll disagree with.
Because there's no one right way to build a great culture but it's always fun to compare notes.
 

Email or phone call?
Voice memo or typed message?
Open door policy or scheduled office hours?
In this episode of Back in 10, we're kicking off a brand-new series called This or That, where we take common leadership and workplace scenarios and pick a side.
For our first round, we're diving into communication because let's be honest, most workplace problems can be traced back to someone saying something, not saying something, or assuming everyone was on the same page.
We debate:• Email vs. phone calls• Voice memos vs. typed messages• Open door policies vs. scheduled office hours• Detailed instructions vs. big-picture direction• Group discussions vs. one-on-one conversations• Planned meetings vs. impromptu chats
Along the way, you'll learn a little more about how we communicate, how we lead, and probably a few of our quirks too.
Because there isn't always a right answer in leadership... but it's fun to argue about it anyway.

You attend an incredible CE event. Your notebook is full. Your mind is racing. You can't wait to get back to the practice and start making changes.
And then Monday happens.
In this special LIVE episode from the Circle of Dental Excellence in Washington, D.C., we're talking about the gap between inspiration and implementation and why so many great ideas never make it back to the practice.
We discuss:• How to avoid overwhelming your team after a conference• Why every new idea needs a clear "why" behind it• The importance of rollout plans, SOPs, and team buy-in• How to prioritize ideas instead of trying to implement everything at once• Why KPIs and metrics should guide your decisions• How vendors, technology partners, and industry peers can support successful implementation
And perhaps our biggest takeaway:
Please stop changing everything on Monday. 😅
Because inspiration is exciting but implementation is what creates results.