Do you ever feel like your practice culture is toxic? In this episode, Kirk Behrendt brings back Adriana Booth, one of ACT’s amazing coaches, to list the seven toxic habits that you might be doing, how they're affecting your culture, and what you can do to create a happier, more committed team. Great culture doesn't happen by accident! To learn how you might be sabotaging your team and what you can do to fix it, listen to Episode 951 of The Best Practices Show!

Learn More About Adriana:

• Join Adriana on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adriana.booth
• Follow Adriana on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adrimarieb
• Send Courtney an email to learn more about ACT: courtney@actdental.com 

More Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life:

• Subscribe to The Best Practices Show: https://the-best-practices-show.captivate.fm/listen
• Join The Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpa
• Download ACT’s BPA app on the Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/best-practices-association/id6738960360
• Download ACT’s BPA app on the Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.actdental.join&hl=en_US
• Join ACT’s To The Top Study Club: https://www.actdental.com/ttt
• Get The Best Practices Magazine for free: https://www.actdental.com/magazine
• Please leave us a review on the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-best-practices-show-with-kirk-behrendt/id1223838218

Episode Resources:

• Watch the video version of Episode 951: https://www.youtube.com/@actdental/videos
• Register to ACT’s BPA for their Guide to Building Trust: https://join.actdental.com/users/sign_in?post_login_redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fjoin.actdental.com%2Fc%2Fpractice-coaching-tools%2Fa-team-playbook-to-maximize-performance-handout#email
• Register to ACT’s BPA for their How Trustworthy Are You? tool: https://join.actdental.com/users/sign_in?post_login_redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fjoin.actdental.com%2Fc%2Fpractice-coaching-tools%2Fhow-trustworthy-are-you#email
• Register to ACT’s BPA for their Rules of Engagement tool: https://join.actdental.com/users/sign_in?post_login_redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fjoin.actdental.com%2Fc%2Fpractice-coaching-tools%2Fact-dental-meeting-rules-for-engagement#email
• Register to ACT’s To The Top Study Club (October 17, 2025): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/climb-with-us-register-for-october-17-2025-ttt-study-club-tickets-1218436780209?aff=odcleoeventsincollection
• Register to ACT’s To The Top Study Club (October 24, 2025): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/climb-with-us-register-for-october-24-2025-ttt-study-club-tickets-1218452908449?aff=odcleoeventsincollection
• Read The Advantage by Patrick Lencioni: https://www.tablegroup.com/product/the-advantage
• Read Traction by Gino Wickman: https://www.eosworldwide.com/traction-book

Main Takeaways:

• Build trust. An absence of trust leads to miscommunication and a fear-based culture.
• Have “itchy conversations”. If you avoid conflict, it will eventually become a crisis.
• Commitment is built by listening. Let your team weigh in so that you get buy-in.
• Create a culture where your team takes accountability and responsibility.
• Your team should be results-driven and have a “we over me” mindset.
• Lead by example. Your behavior is what your team will follow.
• Give feedback — appreciation, evaluation, and coaching.

Snippets:

0:00 Introduction.

1:50 Why this is an important topic.

3:22 Warning signs that your culture is falling apart.

5:57 Toxic habits: Absence of trust.

10:36 Toxic habits: Avoiding conflict conversations.

16:47 Toxic habits: Lack of commitment.

20:00 Toxic habits: Avoiding accountability/responsibility.

24:21 Toxic habits: Inattention to results.

27:51 Toxic habits: Not leading by example.

34:10 Toxic habits: Neglecting feedback.

38:36 ACT BPA tools and resources.

40:53 Final takeaways.

Adriana Booth, BS, RDH Bio:

Adriana Booth is a Lead Practice Coach who partners with dentists and their teams to cultivate leadership skills, build practice growth, and streamline business practices. After spending nearly two decades in the dental industry working with top-notch dental teams, Adriana came to ACT to share her passion for professional growth, high-level training, and systems creation with our clients. As a dental hygienist with a love for continuing education and personal growth, helping a practice become successful is at the heart of her passion for dentistry.

Adriana has a B.S. in Dental Hygiene from West Liberty University/O’Hehir University. By being involved in several Columbus, Ohio, study clubs, Adriana maintains strong relationships within her local dental community. She enjoys a variety of fitness activities, family time, good books, and at the top of her list, her fur babies.