How to improve people skill?

[Maintainer]

Hi, I am D1.

I consider myself an introvert person. Nonetheless, I say hello to other people in school first although I feel really awkward. It seems to be somewhat helpful, but I don't think it is enough. Even when I was shadowing, because I didn't say that much, the dentist and dental assistant had to lead most of the conversation. But now, as a future dentist, I'm worried that I have a responsibility to lead the conversation and please patients.

Before graduation, my goal is not a great hand skill or grade, but people skill. I will join a club that is active and social (Except frat). What else can I do to improve?

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[SoftGel]

get a waiting job

 

[yappy]

Sell cell phones or any other sales job. However, as a dentist you don't need to be a conversationalist. What's most important is making a good initial impression. You need to be able to present yourself in a comfortable, confident way and then get down to business.

 

[resiliens]

1. Hookup w opposite gender
2. Do NOT use protection
3. Spawn little people
4. Talk to them as they grow

Trust the process.

 

[FanOfCostco]

Get on a dating app and go on a bunch of dates.

 

[charlestweed]

Sell cell phones or any other sales job. However, as a dentist you don't need to be a conversationalist. What's most important is making a good initial impression. You need to be able to present yourself in a comfortable, confident way and then get down to business.

Exactly, the patients need to keep their mouth opened so you can do work inside their mouth. If you keep talking to them and they keep talking back, nothing will get done and the other patients who are waiting on the other chairs will start complaining for making them wait. Nobody likes to sit on the dental chair for a long time. Just get things done quickly with minimal pain to your patients and let them go home. After some big procedures (ie multiple extractions, crown-lengthening etc), you can call the patients after the office hours to make sure they are doing OK.

At the corp, I’ve worked with assistants who also assist other doctors. These assistants told me they hate it when the doctor spends too much time talking to one patient and make other patients wait. To save time, I usually use short videos and draw pictures to explain things to my patients. A picture is worth a thousand words. I am an introvert person myself. I usually let my assistants do most of the talkings and giving instructions so I focus more on patient treatments.

Good first initial impression can be something like dressing nice (and not some wrinkle scrubs and old worn out shoes) well groomed hairstyle.

Be confident in your tx plan and tx recommendations. Don't give them a bunch of tx options and say that this option may not work and that option may not work etc.

 

[Saddleshoes]

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[REACHOn]

I am also a D1 and I struggle with this too. I think it's all about putting yourself in uncomfortable situations and overcoming these situations, but this does not mean put yourself in a dangerous situation. Attend events even if you feel slightly uncomfortable and you will slowly get a bit more comfortable to talk to people. For me, I did not try hard to befriend everyone at first, instead I observed and listened to those I could relate with and honed in to them and then I am able to branch out to other people this way. Joining/playing sports is a good way to talk with people too but make sure it is not a professional game though and watch a few YouTube video to get comfortable and know some of the rules before jumping in. Think about it like this.... The individuals that make the class may have different values or perspectives but everyone in the class have a common goal. There are many ways to improve your people's skill but the ones I've stated are from my own experience so far. Hope you have an amazing D1 year! You Have several years before you need to practice before you see patients 🙂

Oh and smile. You do not always have to keep a smile on but when a person makes eye contact with you.... SMILE

Stay positive and ReachOn

 

[Typical Average Student]

Don't worry... the shear awkwardness of your first few patient encounters will force you to talk lol. You'll be laughing to their really lame jokes in due time...

 

[mmc12]

Attend a meetup.com event with strangers. That will force you to be comfortable with introductions/small talk

 

[pubhealthdent]

While getting a job that's going to include talking to people is a good idea, not feasible for everyone while in dental school.

I'm definitely an introvert by nature but my patients would never know that. Working on patients in D3/D4 years will certainly help out because you'll spend a lot of time with these patients, so practice talking to them. Conversation comes easy once you can find common ground with someone so that's all you need to do is find some way to relate to your patient. Maybe you're from the same area, or both like football, or both like warm weather activities.

Also go to a bar frequented by younger people (more okay to talk to strangers than the old guys at the hole in the wall type bars) and just talk to people, practicing after you've had a drink or two will make the conversation come easier which will help your conversational skills

 

[Maintainer]

Thank you all for the great comments. They mean a lot to me!