| feature Mindset: A positive and stimulating environment starts in the mind What you believe, the convictions you hold, will influence your reality. Everything starts in the mind, so what you think is what you will become. This applies to you, but also to your team, your patients and your practice. What is the general atmosphere at work? Is there openness, trust, positivity, or is there a culture of gossiping, distrust, feeling demoralised and unappreciated? Where does this come from? What has happened in the past that was not expressed, addressed or resolved owing to a lack of time? Yes, nobody has time, but by not addressing certain topics or situations, they will not disappear by themselves. Image: ©shutterstock_732336775 If I believe that I will not be able to do some- thing, very probably you will see that in my body language, hear this in my voice, sense this in my energy and approach. However, if I believe that I will be able to do it, you will also notice that on all these levels. The same applies to your team, so if you see that someone is not performing the best that he or she could or should, take the time to find out why. If we genuinely take the time to connect, to listen, people will express what is on their minds. Your environment is a mirror of your inner world. If everything around you is going smoothly, positively and flowing well, it often shows us that we are in that state of mind too. However, if we feel we keep struggling, we cannot get things done, there is chaos around us, often this also reveals something about the chaos inside ourselves. By addressing the inner world, your outer world will reflect that too. This is something that recurs in every training course I give. There are so many limiting beliefs on many ortho- dontic therapies and approaches, patients, staff, educa- tion, pricing, competition, digitalisation, change, etc. As long as we keep these limiting beliefs alive in our minds, they will impact us. I have worked with so many ortho- dontists on neutralising these beliefs, on becoming stronger managers, stronger speakers, stronger ortho- dontists. It is always wonderful to see in people’s eyes when they comprehend the message, gain awareness and start using it. For many, it feels liberating to take the next steps. I am also aware that many orthodontists do not have their own clinic, have no staff, have no partners they work with. Some work in various clinics, in larger corporations, etc. All the tips I have shared can of course also be used in these situations. How to influence people, how to inspire people and how to motivate people (patients, nurses, di- rectors, colleagues, staff) can be daily challenges. Of course, there are many more aspects that will help you go from good to excellent, but the points discussed are keystones, foundations on which to start building. If you think after reading this article that it is too much blah- blah, you are right. Why? Because this is what you believe, it is in your mind, and I will not change that, since it is your life and your reality, not mine. If you think after reading this article that you would like to explore this more, you are right too. Why? Because this is also what you believe, what is in your mind. That is the wonderful news to me: we are always right. The question you could ask yourself however is if being right is what counts. Some food for thought: “Do you want to be right or do you want to be happy?” I wish you an amazing journey of self-development and self-discovery while offering excellent service with an excellent team in an excellent practice. Editorial note: Jerko Bozikovic will be speaking at several events in 2020, including: • the British Orthodontic Society Orthodontic Specialists Group Spring Meeting in London on 29 February; • the third European Aligner Society Congress in Malta on 19 and 20 March; and • the 2020 Invisalign APAC Summit for Orthodontists in Singapore (dates to be announced). about Jerko Bozikovic is a specialist in communication skills, emotional intelli- gence, time and stress management, leadership, and change management. He is fascinated by human behaviour and finds working with people on per- sonal development to be a daily chal- lenge and blessing. He speaks seven languages and has offered his training courses in four languages since 2001. He embraces and embodies the motto “Love the life you live; live the life you love”. Bozikovic can be contacted via LinkedIn. 14 ortho 1 2020