Kiera and Tiff are together on the pod to talk about their favorite team bonding activities that keep everyone feeling seen, heard, valued, and respected.
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Transcript:
The Dental A Team (00:00)
Hello, Dental A Team listeners. This is Kiera and it is a special day. I have the one and only Spiffy Tiffy, TTKD on the pod. We normally don't get a podcast together and I feel Tiff, these used to happen a lot more. We like fix things and now we're gonna hang out a bit more. So welcome. I feel like it's such a treat when you and I get a podcast together. How are you today?
The Dental A Team (00:18)
Thank you, I agree. We don't get enough time together and we are two ships in the night. So I'm good. I wanted to tell you though, ? Spiffy Tiffy sparked this for me. Kiera, as everyone knows, is a fantastic gift giver. You really are, because you put so much thought into every gift that you give and it's sent with love. So I hope all of our clients who get gifts know that like that same spirit is sent in everything that you get. But my point of it is, years and years have gone by now.
The Dental A Team (00:28)
Thank you.
Thank you.
The Dental A Team (00:45)
that I get little Spiffy Tiffy gifts. So it either just says Spiffy Tiffy or it has my caricature who will make a comeback one day. But I used my, it's coming, I know, I know. I used my luggage, like my bag that you had given me. And I was just randomly just like walking along like I always do. This happens to me a lot, like Spiffy Tiffy. And I'm like, what? Like, who are you? Like, how do you know that? You listening to a podcast? That's weird.
The Dental A Team (00:50)
One day, we're coming.
Mm-hmm.
Thank
you
The Dental A Team (01:12)
And then I realized that I had
The Dental A Team (01:13)
Weird.
The Dental A Team (01:13)
my, they were like, what is that? What does that mean? And I was like, well, that's me, obviously. My caricature is on there. So anyways, it was just a funny story that I was just like, what? Like it always catches me off guard when somebody calls me Spiffy Tiffy, or when I get on a client call and somebody's like, ? Spiffy Tiffy. And I'm like, this is so weird.
The Dental A Team (01:28)
you
It is weird and so it makes me so happy that people like get into like who Tiff is the spiffy Tiffy like they're calling you they're like that's like a very very inner circle name and so for people in the airport to be like hey spiffy Tiffy.
The Dental A Team (01:38)
They love it.
I know, literally, literally. And I had
a client the other day that was like texting me. ? We text all the time, me and this client, he knows who he is and he listens to all of them and I know this because he was texting me and he's like, it's so weird. Well, he was voice texting in his Tessie, but he's like, this is so weird to be like listening to the podcast in my car, you're talking, but like I'm voice texting to you. So then Tessie is like saying it back. And I was like, wow, that is like an alternate universe.
The Dental A Team (01:55)
Yeah.
you ?
you
That's a that's a full Spiffy Tiffy moment all the way around and I do love because Spiffy Tiffy actually came from the podcast So like we really want to throw this all the way back. I just I love a good a good nickname I love a good like and honestly tiff it's just stuck like it used to be like TT tiff tiff Spiffy Tiffy though I think is like the clutch like it is the best of the best so and I mean it's got to you We've been doing this for a long time together and that's I think why it's a special treat
The Dental A Team (02:19)
Yeah.
I said it.
The Dental A Team (02:41)
I don't know how you guys feel in your practices, but if you've got your core person that's been with you since the get-go, I think as the business evolves, you kind of lose that time together because you have to like, Tiff's over with consultant, she's podcasting, I'm running different pieces. We've got like our two different worlds, but I think like, I'm just gonna say a shout out to the founders and their like core person. Have fun time together. Like remember why you got into business together, which is why Tiff and I like enjoy a good podcast time. It's a good hangout. So on that note,
Tiff and I are gonna talk about one of our favorite things, team bonding. And this came up because Tiff has so many fun games that she does in offices when we go in and consult. And I just thought about like, offices don't think like we do. And I didn't realize this, Tiff and I used to think everybody, I mean, Tiff and I can be across a room, even today when we're coming onto the podcast, I'm going into Slack to message Tiff our link to podcasts, right as she's sending me a thing of do you want me to join? Like Tiff and I are, it is a weird.
I do feel like we were twins. Like, I think we just got separated by one year, but like we were meant to come into this world at the same time. It is a weird synergy that we have together. So sometimes we think that everybody thinks like us for better or for worse. And I was realizing that teams don't think about team bonding like you and I do Tiff. You are such a talented person at getting teams to engage, to have fun, to like get lightheartedness and then really dig into deep topics. And so that's where I thought, Hey, it's Kieran Tiff. Like, let's just do a throwback. Let's have a fun time today on the podcast and give our listeners.
Like, hey, here's some great ideas for team bonding that you can do that's fun, enjoyable, energetic, and honestly will bring a little curative magic to your practice. And if you hate doing this, a reason you should reach out to Dental A Team, because we love to do this. I feel like we're just going to put on a party when we're in an office and have a good time doing it. So Tiff, let's talk some of our favorite team bonding things that we do in offices.
The Dental A Team (04:26)
Yeah, think number one, thank you, Kiera, for all of what you said. There's so much there to be thankful for and grateful for. So this journey has been incredible. And I'm just excited that we're still here together. It's been some moments, you know? I'm kidding, not kidding, but dirty laundry.
The Dental A Team (04:38)
Me too. Yeah. I mean, I'm just going to slight tangent. was recording earlier and
I was talking about like 12 systems and I'm like, Oh my gosh, Tiff and I did a labor of love on the podcast. Do you remember that? We did all 12 systems and we talked about how like you and I have hard conversations together and some client texted you and they're like, how did you and Kiera get there? And you're like, Oh, if you see the conversations behind the scenes that we've had for the years. And I say like, man,
The Dental A Team (04:53)
huh.
The Dental A Team (05:07)
appreciation to you. This was not my forte until I met you and you have pulled it out of me, but I do agree. I think that will also tie into team bonding. it's not really a total side tangent. ? I think having conversations and relationships, we were even talking about, we're coming together for a company ? annual planning of leadership and we were debating like, we all stay in separate hotels or do we get a VRBO and we're all together? And Tiff, you said it so well this morning. You're like, it's like family.
The Dental A Team (05:17)
So I was gonna say, yeah.
The Dental A Team (05:33)
When you're in leadership, when you're in teams, you've got to learn to work through those problems and not just run to your room, slam the door and be siloed. But I think that that's what team building and bonding is supposed to be about. It's not just supposed to be the surface level. Like if you really want a team that can jive and energize and be solid, you've got to have these team building. And I think a lot of team buildings, the communication and tip, that's honestly something shout out to you and appreciation. Cause the woman I am today, you have had a huge influence on me being the communicator.
the hard conversations, the directness. You even tell me like, Kiera, just be freaking direct. Just tell me what you want. I'm like, okay, this is what I want. Like, thank you. That's great. Let's move on. And just the, which I appreciate. So I think like not planned. I think that that's a core route to the team bonding and the pieces is that's what you're ultimately trying to get to is that that connection, that confidence, that trust, that vulnerability that you can say what needs to be said. And the person on the other side is not just going to walk away.
The Dental A Team (06:07)
Yeah, that's my efficiency.
The Dental A Team (06:28)
even if it doesn't land right. There have been times you and I have had eyes with each other of like, so I'm going to say like what I think you were trying to say and you let me know if that's what you meant. Cause what I heard was definitely not that.
The Dental A Team (06:38)
Yeah, yeah, thank you for that. I appreciate that. And I think that to my core, it's why, to my core, it's why waste time on stuff that doesn't, like why waste time, period. Just why waste time? Time is like so precious in all of our lives and we spend so much time trying to figure out what someone meant by something they said or what they're actually thinking or.
they said this, like actually they I know that they meant this. I'm like, well, you don't because that's not what they said. So like you can ask them or we can sit here and like keep talking about it. My friends probably love and hate that about me and Kiera, you probably do too, because sometimes I'm just like, how many times are we going to talk about this like boy, right? Like, like I can't talk about this boy anymore because you it's either yes or no. like, so we move on, right. So time and I do think like
The Dental A Team (07:13)
love.
The Dental A Team (07:24)
I appreciate that, Kiera. Everything you said, again, thank you. And I agree, like we've come so far and with team bonding and even just like having fun team meetings, the key is that everyone in life just wants to enjoy what we're doing. We just want to enjoy every day. We just want to enjoy the life that we're living. So coming in and having a stuffy meeting or having a like forced to bond with people situation, like sometimes I don't want to bond with that person and that's okay too. We can still be on a team together and work.
really freaking well. So don't force people to bond together and don't force things that just just don't force things you guys it should be a very natural situation but the point of all of that is my core is efficiency so like don't waste time just what can we do to like just and and I'm not saying don't work through things I'm saying tell me what needs to be said so that we can work through it because I will spend as much time as possible.
as needed, as necessary to work through something. But I don't like the like him and ha back and forth because it makes me uncomfortable because I can't figure out what to do. And so it's a space of just like, as long as it's clear, I can work through anything with anyone. I can be anyone's friend for the rest of our eternity because I can work through anything as long as on the other side it's reciprocated. And for team bonding, and I think
me working with teams, I think that's something that I carry and that I bring to make it fun. It's like, cool, we're gonna have fun. And who I am as I show up today is who I am as I show up in offices too. And so I think it breaks down a lot of barriers. So when you come in and you're like, I am the leader and I am the boss and we're gonna do these things, it's like, no, just be with them. So we can just be with each other and be together. like Kiera.
Kiera not staying, she doesn't have to stay at the VRBO while we go do our leadership retreat, right? Like we could have put the rest of us together because we're not the owner of the company and maybe she needs a breather, maybe she needs, like she could have done that, but it would have broken that bond between Kiera and the rest of the team. So her being like on the same level as us does not mean that we don't respect her as the owner of the company and as the lead to us that she is.
it means that we feel seen, heard, valued, and respected ourselves. So that team bonding really becomes about the team and not just the rest of the team. Kiera's a part of that team. ? But I think, Kiera, I think that was massive information and it was a good spin on it. But I think the fun piece that we bring, think we should, we talk about that. And a lot of that comes from Kiera, you,
The Dental A Team (09:58)
Mm-hmm.
The Dental A Team (10:12)
giving the permission to be that way. When we first started, I think anyone who's like, there's a lot there, but I think anyone who's like, I'm going to be a consultant, right? It's like, I'm going to wear the heels and I'm going to wear the pencil skirt. I was listening to a podcast yesterday, it was like that CEO mindset. And it's like every little girl is taught like you're going to be a mom and a CEO. And we all have that mindset. And that CEO is like, stern. She's like, Yep, GSD.
The Dental A Team (10:17)
you
The Dental A Team (10:41)
We don't laugh, don't talk, we get stuff done and I go home to my kids. And it's just like this like stern, stuffy human. And coming into consulting, it feels like that's how I'm supposed to be. And I know a lot of companies are that way and that's totally fine. And I know it works for people, works for people. What we came into was know we're here to have fun and we're gonna bring out the child-like enthusiasm.
Because it helps get things done and people can love their jobs like I don't want to come in and be like man I do this Stern Stern I want to come in and be like let's play games like let's rally let's shake things up let's make this fun again and watch what you can do to your profitability just by Living a fun life and care I think that's a piece that people miss when we when we decide we're adults now, so we decide we're adults and we're like
The Dental A Team (11:15)
Mm-hmm.
The Dental A Team (11:36)
not supposed to have fun anymore. We're not supposed to laugh at work. We're supposed to be serious. And that was just the movies we watched, right? That was the Devil Wears Prada. Nobody's actually running around like the Devil Wears Prada and loving their life. Like, no, we're here to have fun. And Kiera, think that's something that you give all of us permission to do, because I think that's the spirit that you carry in life. I think it's like a balance for you, and you're constantly on the teeter totter of that. But I, as just
The Dental A Team (11:46)
Right. ?
The Dental A Team (12:05)
lead consultant in the company, not owners, CEO, whatever titles you carry, I get to live that up constantly and not have that teeter quite as much. So I think when it comes to team bonding and you asking me that it's because I do have that permission to like shake things up and just be fun and have fun. And if I'm, I tell my, every practice I walk into, every team meeting that we do, I tell them if we're not having fun here.
The Dental A Team (12:06)
you
The Dental A Team (12:32)
I am peace and out. I do not want to live a life that's not fun. So this meeting is like, yeah, exactly. And I tell them that I'm efficient, I'm not wasting my time, I'm not wasting your time. Promise you, I will never waste your time. So if we're not having fun in this meeting, we are not enjoying the heck out of our lives and getting actionable, clear, pushing forward pieces that we can implement right away, why did we even come here today?
The Dental A Team (12:35)
There's your efficiency.
I love it. And thank you for the things you said and the agreed fun I think is such a key element in the spirit of fun. I was thinking about it. It's not quite my best alliteration for you, but I think it's going to be just an added on for you that you're going to appreciate. I was thinking, okay, TIFFs efficiency. We've got Spiffy Tiffy. So it's not perfect because I think it can be taken a smidgey wrong, but I think it's freaking funny. I think we call you iffy Spiffy Tiffy because I can't quite get efficiency, but the iffy kind of just edges for you.
The Dental A Team (13:26)
So it's like, yeah,
yeah, yeah, I like it, I like it.
The Dental A Team (13:27)
We got the iffy
Spiffy Tiffy over there. I'll work on it a little bit more. But to that point, the efficiency, the fun, the team bonding and agreed for me, I don't want to be in a company and this is your space. This is what you do for us on Dental A Team. Fun is one of our core values. It's who I am at my core. ? like yesterday I walked into a meeting, ? and walked in virtually and Eve, our marketer, I she doesn't get embarrassed by this. Like it was freaking funny. I laughed so hard. We were like changing our names. were giving me a hard time because my name came in as the wrong name.
And she was like, Kiera, no, you can just change your name like this. So she put in big boss in all caps and we're on this marketing meeting and I freaking laughed. I thought it was hilarious. The fact that she could say that in front of her boss to me. Well, I also know that Eve has the utmost respect for me of what we would do and would never in her wild streams ever disrespect me. So then of course I pop onto the me. I had to like switch and join in a different way. So I throw in bigger boss with a smiley face.
and Eve like dies laughing on it. And then our marketing consultant was like, and the ultimate boss. But I think in those realms, being human as the CEO and as the boss of it is more fun. And Tiff, to your point about team meetings and team bonding, I think living life on purpose and having fun in what you're doing is the key to getting success of your team. We can talk and we can give you all the tactics. Like Tiff and I do balloon towers and we help you with that. We do a lemonade stand. That's a ton of fun. We do.
Two truths and a lie. do, ? gosh, there's like riddles that we do. There's so many different things that we do that we can tell you that we can spin. We do paper airplanes, we do peanut butter and jelly. Like we can give you the tactical, but Tiff, think it was unintentionally perfect today that the core of how you get team bonding to really resonate is one, be who you are and be true to who you are. I did not want a stuffy consulting company. That was not what I was here for. I did not want the pencil skirts. I want us to deliver the pencil skirt standard while being an approachable human for you.
And that to us is our core. That's who we bring in for consultants. If you are too stuffy, if you can't have fun, if you can't laugh at yourself, probably not the place to be because we want clients to be able to do that. So one, be true to who you are. Two, have fun and make sure that your team and your like you're experiencing this and then do bonding on purpose. Like you said, Tiff, I think it's like, what's the purpose when we do all those games, there is a purpose that we tie to it of helping people like peanut butter and jelly is communication of handoffs.
Like you tell me to put peanut butter on, I'm gonna wipe it all the way up my arm. We had a whole commercial for this, like let's do some real big throwbacks. It was one of the funniest things we ever did because like that was real and that's real life for handoffs. But when you do team bonding, make sure it's intentional, make sure you're human, make sure you're real and make sure you're having fun. I think would kind of be the pretty bow to put on this team bonding. Tiff, any last bows you wanna add to our team bonding funds? Iffy, smiffy, tiffy over there.
The Dental A Team (15:46)
So great.
Yeah. I... Whatever it is. Come on, guys.
You guys can help with this. Everyone knows me now. ? No, I think...
The Dental A Team (16:10)
I'm gonna get you a bag.
They're gonna really like iffy Spiffy Tiffy. I just love okay I'll work on it
The Dental A Team (16:15)
Are you or aren't you? Which one is it? I
think a pretty bow. I think you hit so many pieces on the head. I think one of the pieces you said was, yes, make sure that the games are intentional. Whatever it is that it's tying back to something. So something I think we do really well is tie back to the thing that we want. train teams to do this all the time. It's like treatment planning. I want you to schedule. So it's like, no, I don't have that. But what I can do is put you here. I'm tying it back always to what I want.
So whatever game it is, whatever bonding experience it is, like how can we relate this to what we're doing? Kiera took us all, and this is not to tell you what to do with your bonding. Kiera took us all one year to Disney. And we were like, fantastic. But then right before Disney, she's like, and our goal is to figure out how Disney does what they do, right? And I was like, for the love, we can't just have a day, you know? But then it was like, immediately I was like, gosh, give it up, woman, right?
The Dental A Team (16:53)
Thank
The Dental A Team (17:14)
But then I was like, actually, that's really brilliant because how does Disney do what they do? Like, how do they clean up the trash without anybody knowing? Like, how do we go above and beyond for our clients in a way that mimics how Disney goes above and beyond? And so it actually turned into like this really great thing, right? But anyways, be intentional, be true to yourself, be yourself, and let people see you.
The Dental A Team (17:38)
Tiff, yes, I have softened up a little bit. We don't always have as many meetings or as many photo shoots, but I appreciate that you said that because I also do believe as a CEO, I want people to bond and to be together and to, but again, it's an intentional bonding. And when we did go to Disney and it was a ton of fun, like we had a blast. think our second round, you and I looked at each other, because sometimes Tiff and I, we have a good, good friendship, you guys. We've been like dear friends, like.
The Dental A Team (17:42)
?
Thank you.
The Dental A Team (18:04)
I'd put it in like BFF. Like I think if we were in elementary school, we'd have those separate heart brace like necklaces. ? Tiff and I are truly like dear friends in and outside of work. And I sometimes make Tiff not be my friend in public settings because I'm like, no, I'm here as a boss. And the last time we loosened up a lot and I'm like, everybody should know that Spiffy, Tiffy and Katie go way far back in the, like you should be grateful that Tiff and I are as close as we are for the things we've gone through. But to that point when we did Disney,
The Dental A Team (18:30)
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
The Dental A Team (18:33)
I think that there's always, ? as leaders, your job is to make sure teams can tie back to that because you might help them highlight and see, Tiff now thinks about Disney very differently, then it's fun, but how can we now make our company this way? And to develop and develop leaders, I think is one of the paramount pieces of team development. So I know Tiff and I were a little like spirally, we had a good time. guys, Tiff and I don't get to chat all the time, so I hope you enjoyed a little chit chat personal on this, also a lot of fun, but I hope if nothing else, you take the core of exactly what Tiff said.
Be intentional, be true to yourself, bond for the sake of bonding, not forced bonding, and really truly have a lot of fun. Teams will resonate so much faster in that childhood fun. How do we as consultants flip the results we do? It's by getting you to basic ease, fun core that helps them see the purpose, the why behind it, but did it in such a playful, fun way. So if you need more tips or you want help with that, be sure to reach out. Tiff and I have a bajillion ideas. I feel like we're like Mary Poppins with our bag full of tricks, but it's truly with intentional purpose.
to help your teams just rise to the level that they want to go, not necessarily where the CEO wants them to go. It's conjoined, it's conjunct, like they really do come together. So enjoy that. Tiff, thanks for being on the podcast. I know we've got to both run to our next meetings, but thank you. Swiftie Tiffy, thanks for being in my life. Thanks for being on the podcast. Thanks for giving all this goodness to everybody. And truly you just change teams lives when you go in there. So I think any practice who gets to work with you or our team that you train truly is super blessed to have that. So thank you. Yeah.
The Dental A Team (19:44)
Thank you.
Thank you. Thank you.
The Dental A Team (20:02)
And for all of you listening, reach out, go to the website, click on, book a call. Hello@TheDentalATeam.com is our email reach out. We're here to help you and your team have more fun. Enjoy. And as always, thanks for listening. We'll catch you next time on the Dental A Team podcast.