Opportunities come in all shapes and sizes

The why

Networking is widely defined as behaviours designed to build and maintain relationships that have the potential to facilitate work-related activities. It has long been utilised as a tool to support career development, helping individuals to expand their collective knowledge and physical resources in a way that allows them to excel within their job role.

Career success may be categorised according to objective and subjective measures. A metric for the former might be based on salary, while a metric for the latter could be job satisfaction. A longitudinal study[i] found that networking positively correlates with concurrent salary, facilitating income growth over time. Internal networking was also associated with subjective career satisfaction.

There may be merit in connecting with colleagues frequently in the short-term as well. One study[ii] suggested that daily networking helped individuals to access valuable resources within their working environment and might even have a positive influence on their emotional wellbeing at work, contributing to job satisfaction.

The how

With so much to be gained by networking effectively, it’s important to do it right. To optimise the opportunities available in dentistry, there are various steps to follow:

Identify what you want to achieve – are you looking for clinical advice or mentorship, product recommendations, general career guidance or something else?
Consider who you want to connect with in terms of their clinical interests, their career progression so far, their ambitions and their achievements to date.
Get involved with different groups, organisations, societies and communities, both in-person and online; you may end up in a situation that proves fruitful for your career that you would otherwise not have considered.
Make the most of every opportunity – whether you attend virtual or in-person courses or events, engage with people during the breaks and between sessions to really maximise your chances of connecting with interesting and like-minded colleagues.
Choose the events you attend strategically. There are lots of options out there right now, but choosing the right events according to your professional goals and current stage of your career is essential for optimising your investment of time and money.

The when

When selecting which events to get involved with, factors like group size, location, interest and learning potential should all be considered. You need sufficient numbers to connect with an adequate amount of new people, but not too many that you become lost in the crowd. Of course, the focus topic of the event, whether clinical or business in nature, must be relevant to you and your ambitions. As you will be taking time away from the practice or your family, it’s also important for the event to be enjoyable and to offer a social aspect that facilitates informal engagement with others. Finally, it’s essential that the right kind of people will attend any event you’re considering, offering value alongside the training or CPD provided.

For example, if you’re looking to purchase your first dental practice or refurbish and expand an existing business, then you’ll want to attend events that provide advice on the subject from those who have done it before. Some will also connect you with potential suppliers and manufacturers in the field, enabling you to start meaningful conversations with the people who could help steer the next stages of your career.

This is something that Clover Dental Group does very well. An eclectic list of events is hosted throughout the year and across the country, bringing dentists together with like-minded colleagues and specialists in refurbishment, design and product supply. Providing CPD on either business or clinical topics, the sell-out events provide once-in-a-lifetime experiences alongside first-class education and exciting networking opportunities. Why not attend the Porsche or Aston Martin Roadshow, or take advantage of a rare chance to tour the Red Bull Racing Group Factory? Places are limited to deliver the best possible experience for attendees, so book early to avoid disappointment!

Plan ahead

If you’re looking to change the game when it comes to your learning and networking, take action today. When you are clear about what you want to achieve and how, planning ahead becomes easier and you can attend events that afford significant value while also being truly enjoyable.

Browse the full list of unique CPD events hosted by Clover Dental Group and book by visiting cloverdentalfitout.co.uk/event or calling 07961 669996

Author:

Steve Kettle has worked in the dental sector for over 30 years and has a wealth of contacts all over the UK after developing strategic partnerships through dental property networks. He has vast experience in delivering high-end building projects in dental, retail, residential and commercial marketplaces.

Steve is very personal and determined when it comes to serving his clients and has an excellent track record in delivering the best results in all his projects. He has an absolute focus on following the brief and creating that personal touch that is greatly appreciated by his clients.

[i] Wolff, Hans-Georg & Moser, Klaus. (2009). Effects of Networking on Career Success: A Longitudinal Study. The Journal of applied psychology. 94. 196-206. 10.1037/a0013350.

[ii] Volmer J, Wolff HG. A Daily Diary Study on the Consequences of Networking on Employees’ Career-Related Outcomes: The Mediating Role of Positive Affect. Front Psychol. 2018 Nov 13;9:2179. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02179. PMID: 30483188; PMCID: PMC6243093.