38 AUSTRALASIAN DENTIST INNOVATIONS Stepping into the brand new headquarters of the Dental Boutique Group is like entering a realm of paradoxes. A maze where the conventional script of dental offices is discarded like last week’s minty floss. Five minutes beyond the reception desk and you notice something different: There are no dental chairs in sight, no patients nervously pacing around, and certainly no surgery rooms peeking out from the corners. Instead, you’re greeted with what you’d expect from a high-rise suited-up institution. Walking past a labyrinth of desks, buzzing with office chatter, the epiphany hits you: This entire 500 square-metre prime office space, teeming with support staff, serve not some faceless insurance behemoth, but a family-owned dental group! This is an Aussie dental powerhouse operating on an unprecedented scale. However, if judging by appearances alone, you figure that the Dental Boutique Group is about to flex its corporate muscle, you’d be missing the point. In fact, the Group’s co-owners (and life partners) Dr Reuben Sim and Dr May Chan, are quick to distance themselves from that cold, calculated image of a corporate monolith. “Traditional corporate offices, as we understand them – although neither Reuben or myself have ever worked in one – tend to provide autonomy to their principal dentists until financial concerns arise, after which you can expect increased scrutiny and involvement as they have an outsized focus on meeting the bottom line,” May avers. “The challenge lies in their limited understanding of dentistry and the difficulties faced by practicing dentists.” People before profits: The winning culture of Dental Boutique Group In a highly corporatised, numbers-driven practice arena, the success of Dental Boutique Group emerges as a vibrant anomaly. Fuelled by the tenacity of its founding leaders, the Group takes an encompassing approach to dentistry, marked by positive energy, a commitment to life-changing patient experiences, and a high-performing team culture. By Danny Chan The proof is in the performance As practicing clinicians who have worked their way from a single-chair surgery in Balwyn (Melbourne), to overseeing a full-fledged practice group with existing locations in Geelong, Mornington, Adelaide, Brisbane, Sydney – not to mention their first international clinic in New Zealand with new additions this year in Perth, and second locations in NSW, SA and Queensland – the Sims have earned the right to defy the norms of corporate culture. Despite having experienced unbridled growth over the last 10 years with 120 clinicians in the team now, the dental group is propelled not by profit-driven algorithms but by a profound understanding of its own essence. The beating heart of the Dental Boutique Group, Reuben insists, is a vibrant, high-performing team culture – that starts from the top. “We firmly believe that positive energy begets positive outcomes, just as negativity can attract unfavourable vibes,” Reuben emphasises. “Personally, I approach each workday with enthusiasm, positivity, and proactivity, setting a tone for the entire team. Demonstrating kindness, speaking well of others, and maintaining a positive outlook contribute to creating a work atmosphere that the team finds commendable. By embodying these qualities, team members are inspired to emulate them.” In their communication, whether through speeches, group huddles, or daily interactions, the Sims prioritise simplicity, using expressions that resonate with their perspectives. The belief is that with the right individuals on the team this language is easily adopted, fostering a cohesive team dynamic. “The role of leaders is to identify and place individuals where they can thrive and contribute effectively,” Reuben shares, stressing the importance of aligning people with roles that match their strengths. “This isn’t a dictatorial approach found in corporate structures; it’s a collaborative effort to ensure every member of the dental team operates in an environment where they can excel.”
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