Back in 10

Leadership decisions, but make them fast. In this quick round of This or That, we’re picking sides on some big leadership questions with very little time to overthink them. Lead by example or lead by vision? Accountability or empathy? Respected or liked? Tough conversations or tough decisions? Unlimited time or unlimited money? And yes, Jen immediately tries to choose both. Because apparently that...

Welcome to another round of This or That! This time, we're tackling one of our favorite topics: managing people. Should you hire for attitude or experience? Promote from within or hire externally? Build policies with flexibility or hold the line? These are the kinds of decisions leaders make every day, and spoiler alert... we don't agree on all of them. In this episode, we debate: Hire for attitud...

Welcome back to our This or That series! This time, we're tackling office culture. The little decisions that can have a big impact on your team, your leadership, and the environment you create every day. Fair warning... there are definitely a few clutch your pearls moments in this one. We debate: Team lunch or team happy hour? Employee of the Month or peer recognition? Team-building activity or vo...

Email or phone call? Voice memo or typed message? Open door policy or scheduled office hours? In this episode of Back in 10, we're kicking off a brand-new series called This or That, where we take common leadership and workplace scenarios and pick a side. For our first round, we're diving into communication because let's be honest, most workplace problems can be traced back to someone saying somet...

You attend an incredible CE event. Your notebook is full. Your mind is racing. You can't wait to get back to the practice and start making changes. And then Monday happens. In this special LIVE episode from the Circle of Dental Excellence in Washington, D.C., we're talking about the gap between inspiration and implementation and why so many great ideas never make it back to the practice. We discus...

They said yes. They understood the treatment. They scheduled the appointment. And then... they disappeared. In this episode of Back in 10, we're tackling one of the most frustrating challenges in dentistry: patients who accept treatment and then never follow through. The surprising truth? It's often not a patient problem. It's a communication problem. Jen shares her 4 Cs of Treatment Acceptance Fr...

What do you do when your top performer is also the person creating tension, drama, or negativity inside your practice? Because high production does not always equal high value. In this episode of Back in 10, we’re tackling one of the hardest leadership situations in dentistry: how to handle a toxic team member when they’re also one of your strongest producers. We talk about: • Why avoiding the con...

Stepping into dental leadership can feel like one day you were just doing the job… and the next day everyone was looking at you for answers. No playbook. No warning. Just vibes, responsibility, and a whole lot of “wait, how did I get here?” In this episode of Back in 10, we’re talking about where to actually start when you’re new to dental admin leadership, whether you’re a new office manager, lea...

One year. Fifty episodes. Countless laughs, a few tears, some questionable language choices… and somehow, we’re still figuring it out. In this special anniversary episode of Back in 10, we’re reflecting on what it’s really been like building this podcast over the last year, from sitting in a Boston coffee shop brainstorming logos to recording live in front of packed rooms of dental professionals....

AI in dentistry is everywhere right now… and honestly? Some people are spiraling. In this episode of Back in 10, we’re having a real conversation about what AI actually means inside a dental practice and why it should support your team, not replace them. Because AI is not magic. It’s not a replacement for leadership, empathy, clinical judgment, or human connection. We talk about: • How to identify...

“I’ll just do it myself.” We’ve all said it… and it might be the exact reason you feel overwhelmed. In this episode of Back in 10, we’re talking about delegation, time, and the trap so many leaders fall into when they try to do everything on their own. Because the problem usually isn’t your workload. It’s how you’re leading it. We break down: • Why “I’ll just do it myself” is actually hurting your...

Leader or manager? The truth is… you don’t get to pick just one. In this episode of Back in 10, we’re breaking down the real difference between leading and managing — and why the most effective dental leaders know how to do both. Because managing keeps the practice running. But leadership is what keeps your team engaged, growing, and staying. We talk about: • The difference between focusing on tas...

This episode is a little different… and it matters. Ralf Tomandl of HR for Health joins us as we talk about the HR conversations that go beyond policies and procedures, the ones that require awareness, attention, and leadership. Because sometimes, what you notice (or don’t) matters more than you think. In recognition of Oral Cancer Awareness Month, we’re highlighting the importance of paying atten...

Stop waiting to feel ready. Here’s how to decide anyway. In this episode, we’re answering a listener question: What decision-making framework helps leaders make confident choices under pressure? And here’s the truth… Most leaders don’t struggle to make decisions. They struggle to trust themselves enough to make one. So instead of overcomplicating it, we break down a simple way to think through dec...

What does it actually look like to lead other leaders in a dental practice? Especially when you don’t own the business… and you don’t sign the paychecks… but you’re still responsible for execution, alignment, and results. In this episode, we’re getting into one of the most delicate dynamics in leadership: leading up and leading alongside other leaders. We talk about: • Why alignment with your doct...

Have you ever led while doubting yourself? Like… really doubting yourself. In this episode, we’re talking about the kind of leadership no one posts about. The moments where you look confident on the outside, but inside you’re questioning everything. Your decisions. Your tone. Whether you even deserve the seat you’re in. We get into what self-doubt actually looks like in real life. Over-preparing....

Can leaders be friends with their team? It’s a question that makes a lot of leaders uncomfortable, especially in small businesses and dental practices where teams are tight-knit and relationships run deep. In this episode of Back in 10, Jen and Savanah unpack the blurred lines between leadership and friendship. They talk about the challenges of moving from peer to leader, why wanting to be liked c...

Unlimited sick time and PTO sounds great in theory. But does it actually work in a dental practice? In this episode of Back in 10, Jen and Savanah unpack one of the most debated workplace policies in modern leadership: unlimited time off. From state laws and HR considerations to team culture and leadership modeling, they explore what happens when practices try to implement flexible time-off polici...

Sometimes the best conversations are the ones that were never planned. In this episode of Back in 10, Jen and Savanah talk about finding your people in dentistry and in life. What starts as a Valentine’s Day conversation about connection turns into stories about LinkedIn cold messages, peer groups, introducing your favorite humans, and yes, a very unexpected side quest involving Chelsea Clinton’s...

Leadership decisions do not happen in a vacuum. They impact teams, relationships, and trust. In this episode of Back in 10, Jen and Savanah have an honest conversation about loyalty, integrity, and what happens when major changes are announced publicly...when it shouldn't have been. They unpack the emotional side of transitions, the ripple effect on teams, and the importance of grace when change f...

Hiring dental assistants is one of the biggest challenges facing practices right now. Keeping them is even harder. In this extended episode of Back in 10, Jen and Savanah sit down with Stacey Singleton CDA, EFDA, DAADOM to have a real, unfiltered conversation about what is happening in assistant hiring and retention. From bait and switch job ads to onboarding failures, culture breakdowns, pay tran...

Interviewing well is a leadership skill, and it is one that most teams are never taught. In this episode of Back in 10, Jen Steadman, owner of the hiring company JenSOS, leads the conversation on how to interview with confidence, clarity, and intention. Drawing from her real-world hiring experience, Jen breaks down why interviews often fail, how unclear processes lead to poor hires, and what leade...

If you are struggling to find the right candidates, the problem may not be the market. It may be your job ad. In this episode, Jen and Savanah kick off a hiring series by breaking down why job ads are the foundation of every successful hiring strategy. They talk about how language, clarity, and culture show up before a candidate ever applies and why hiring should be intentional, not reactive. This...

This episode was recorded live at Unlock the C.O.D.E. dental event in Pennsylvania and we are bringing it back for anyone who could not attend in person. In this live conversation, Jen and Savanah talk about the real power of networking and why making the first move matters more than waiting for the perfect moment. From hallway conversations to LinkedIn messages, this episode breaks down how authe...

If you feel busy all day but still behind, this episode is for you. In just ten minutes, Jen and Savanah share practical time management tips for leaders who are juggling too much. They break down where time actually goes, how to identify leaks in your day, and why better systems matter more than longer hours. This episode covers delegation, protecting focus time, and shifting away from the idea t...