The Dental Lighthouse with Dr. Jason Tanoory

92: Answering Great Questions From The Next Generation of Dentists: Part One

In this episode, Jason tackles real questions from early-career dentists who are hungry to lead—before they feel fully “ready.” From earning trust with seasoned team members, to navigating tension with owners and mentors, to knowing when (and how) to start building leadership depth, this conversation cuts through the noise. If you're thinking about ownership, culture, or how to avoid the landmines most docs don’t see coming until it’s too late—this one’s for you. This is Part One of the conversation, so stay tuned for more insights in Part Two dropping next week.

91: What Are These Foundational Principles Jason is Going On and On About?

In this episode, Jason strips leadership down to the studs—no fluff, just the hard truths about what makes or breaks your practice. If you’ve heard him hammer on about “foundational principles” and wondered what the big deal is, this one’s for you.
Jason walks through the core elements that most dentists skip over in their rush to “scale”—things like vision, core values, and team alignment. Sound soft? It’s not. These are the backbone of any practice that doesn’t leave you putting out fires and dragging your team uphill.
You’ll hear why dentists lose good people (hint: it’s not about money), how to stop playing office telephone with your leads, and what happens when you climb the wrong ladder.
Whether you’re a burned-out doc or a lead trying to run point without backup, this is your reset button.

90: Replacing KPI's with Health, Service and Gratitude? Dr. Jaffer is doing just that.

What if you ran a successful multi-practice group without production targets, office bonuses, or metric-heavy meetings?
Dr. Jan Jaffer has done exactly that, and the results speak for themselves.
In this episode, Jason sits down with Dr. Jaffer to explore how he built a thriving dental group rooted in partnership, purpose, and people-first leadership. They unpack how prioritizing team health, exceptional care, and community impact—not KPIs—can actually drive more sustainable growth.
From new patient experiences that build trust from day one to creative ways his team gives back without burning out, Dr. Jaffer offers a blueprint for leading with gratitude instead of grind. He also shares how his group uses AI and clinical mentorship to keep standards high without falling into the production trap.
Whether you're managing one office or multiple, this episode is a refreshing reminder that culture and care are not soft. They're strategic.

89: The Power of the 4 Futures Framework

In this episode, Jason breaks down his go-to tool for building a balanced, intentional life: the Four Futures Framework. If you’re tired of feeling like your days just happen to you, this is a blueprint for flipping the script. The framework divides your life into four key areas—Mind, Meaning, Muscle, and Money—and challenges you to invest in each every single day. Jason unpacks simple ways to boost your mental clarity, deepen relationships, improve health, and strengthen your finances, all in bite-sized daily chunks. You’ll also hear how others in the community have put this into practice—wins, struggles, and everything in between. It’s a practical, no-fluff guide to becoming a better version of yourself, one quadrant at a time. Dive in and see why spending just 15 focused minutes on each can radically change your life.

88: Loving Your Team Like Jesus — Even When It’s Hard

In this powerful and personal episode, Jason reconnects with Dr. Bill, a young dentist in the early stages of a scratch-start practice. Together, they explore what it means to live out your faith as a leader — not just in words, but through consistent, Christ-like actions in both business and life.
From handling difficult staff and patients with truth and grace, to modeling agape love through honesty, humility, and accountability, Jason shares real-life strategies and lessons he's learned from his own leadership journey. They also unpack how to stay rooted in your values amid the pressures of growth and success, and how generosity can become a driving force in your business.
If you've ever wrestled with how to blend faith and leadership, especially in a professional setting, this episode offers practical wisdom, encouragement, and a reminder that love and truth must go hand in hand — even when it’s hard.

87: Is Demoting My Lead Hygienist the Beginning of the End?

In this focused coaching call, we tackle two critical leadership challenges in dental practices: how to handle a misaligned lead hygienist and what to do with underperforming associates.
First, we unpack the emotional and strategic steps for demoting a team member who no longer wants a leadership role—without hurting culture or morale. Then, we shift to actionable strategies for managing low-producing associates, including setting clear goals, using data-driven scorecards, and improving case acceptance through coaching and video reviews.
If you’re navigating tough conversations and team performance issues, this episode offers practical tools and real-world insight to help you lead with clarity and confidence.

86: What Hill Are You Dying On?

In this episode of The Dental Lighthouse, Jason reflects on a recent conversation with a prospective coaching client who was struggling with team turnover. What began as a discussion about numbers turned into a deeper look at leadership habits—specifically, the small, persistent issues we choose to address and whether they’re truly worth the energy. Jason challenges listeners to ask themselves, "Is this a hill I’m willing to die on?" and introduces a helpful framework to filter those decisions through the lens of patient experience and core values.
He also draws parallels to parenting and personal growth, highlighting the importance of self-restraint and thoughtful leadership. Whether it’s a misplaced mirror in the operatory or a workout with his teenage son, Jason explores how growth often happens in the pause between reaction and response. This episode is a must-listen for anyone leading a team, raising a family, or simply trying to become a more intentional version of themselves.

85: How Are Your 1:1's Going? Part Two

In Part Two of How Are Your 1:1’s Going?, we dive deeper into mastering effective one-on-one meetings and formal reviews that truly support your team’s growth and accountability. This episode covers essential strategies for conducting meaningful performance conversations, including how to evaluate core values using Gino Wickman’s EOS framework and how to approach compensation with fairness and fiscal responsibility.
Learn how to set clear expectations, give constructive feedback regularly, not just during formal reviews, and avoid blindsiding team members. We also discuss how to document goals and commitments to ensure continuous development and how to balance rewarding top performers while managing your practice’s financial health.
Whether you’re leading assistants, hygienists, or other team members, this episode will give you practical guidance to elevate your one-on-one meetings and help your team succeed.

84: How Are Your 1:1's Going?

In this episode, Jason dives into the importance of monthly informal one-on-one meetings and how they can transform team communication and performance. He explains how using self-assessments can create space for honest conversations between leaders and team members, especially when there are gaps in perception. These meetings offer a chance to give timely feedback, clarify expectations, and support growth in a consistent and approachable way.
Jason also addresses common objections like not having enough time, managing too many people, or believing feedback isn't necessary if someone is "just doing their job." He explains why those are excuses and outlines how to build regular check-ins into your ideal week. This episode is full of practical advice for leaders who want to build stronger, more accountable teams through consistent and caring communication.

83: Let's Really Deal with Our Phone Addiction

In this episode, Jason shares a powerful personal journey sparked by a trip to Croatia that completely shifted his relationship with technology. From being the guy who prided himself on instant replies and 24/7 connectivity, to someone who now deliberately disconnects. Jason walks you through the exact mindset and habits that helped him reclaim his time, focus, and presence.
He dives into why our obsession with being constantly available might actually be hurting the people who matter most, and how “batching,” time-blocking, and even a little tool called Brick can be game changers.
Whether you're just noticing your phone habits or you already know you're too plugged in, this episode offers a real-world perspective, a few laughs, and a practical challenge: take all that junk off your phone and be really present.
💡 Mentioned in this episode:
BRICK phone-blocking tool 
Jason’s blog post on batching & ideal week
Try it for one week—you may be surprised by how much more life you find when you’re not looking at your screen.