AME: Intentional Culture

Nov 3, 2025

Alan shares his journey of transforming a laid-back dental practice culture into a more intentional one. He highlights how inherited cultures shape practices and the challenges of changing deep-rooted habits. The role of insurance in practice focus is discussed, along with the advantages new owners have in establishing culture from scratch. Alan also reflects on personal hesitations regarding major changes and invites listeners to share their own experiences in the Facebook group. It's a call to embrace intentionality in practice culture!

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ANECDOTE

Bought Into An Existing Laid‑Back Culture

Alan Mead inherited a laid-back practice with a reparative-dentistry culture and generous GM insurance coverage.
He learned on the job and admits he didn't design the office culture when he became owner.

INSIGHT

Culture Will Form Even If You Don’t Design It

Culture forms whether you design it or not, so not deciding is itself a decision.
Living with an unintentional culture makes later change much harder because the status quo embeds into practice DNA.

ADVICE

Lead With A Plan To Change Systems

If you want to change practice systems, prepare a clear plan and lead with a stiff spine.
Help your team buy into the change because dragging feet will usually revert you back to old habits.

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Alan gets candid about the concept of intentional culture, reflecting on his own experience taking over a dental practice where the culture was largely unintentional. He explains how he inherited a laid-back, reparative-dentistry-focused office, a product of the previous owner's lax style and the robust GM insurance benefits of the time. Alan admits that while his practice's culture has been adequate, making changes now is incredibly difficult because the unintentional status quo is deeply ingrained. He argues that new owners or startups have a massive advantage in establishing an intentional culture from day one, which is key to implementing new systems and driving change. He challenges listeners to join the Very Dental Facebook group (passwords include Timmerman, Hornbrook, Lipscomb, Papa Randy, Gary, or McWethy) to share their stories of intentional culture or the struggles of changing an unintentional one.

Join the Very Dental Facebook group using the password "Timmerman," Hornbrook," "Gary," "McWethy," "Papa Randy" or "Lipscomb!"

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