TODS FEATURED SPEAKER
SPEAK KINDLY, THEY’RE LISTENING
Presenter: Dr. Jessica Metcalfe
Session Date: Friday October 23, 2026
Session Time: 8:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Presenter Name: Dr. Jessica Metcalfe
Outline:
Building Confidence, Communication and Culture
Dental practices are navigating significant change driven by evolving workforce expectations, increasing operational pressure, well-being challenges, and the growing influence of technology and AI. Many dental teams struggle not because of clinical skill, but due to unclear expectations, avoided conversations, emotional spillover during busy clinical days, and inconsistent accountability. These factors disrupt workflow, strain leadership, impact retention, and affect patient trust. Speak Kindly, They’re Listening provides a practical roadmap for building high-performing dental teams by focusing on the three core pillars of confidence, communication, and culture. Designed for use across the dental team, this session offers practical tools that can be applied immediately to improve conversations, address issues in a timely manner, and support a stable practice environment.
- Develop confidence and autonomy across the dental team by defining clear roles, expectations, and communication norms that support effective collaboration across clinical and administrative functions.
- Apply the Be C.L.E.A.R. communication methodTM and related strategies to manage difficult conversations including performance feedback, scheduling pressures, patient care coordination and conflict.
- Analyze how practice culture and leadership communication influence patient care, team retention, operational efficiency, accountability, and psychological safety.
- Evaluate alignment between clinic values and daily behaviors using the seven-point dental culture auditTM, and develop actionable steps to improve engagement, well-being and overall team performance.
About The Speaker
Dr. Jessica Metcalfe is an award-winning speaker, bestselling author, and recognized authority in leadership development, business culture, and team performance. Named one of WXN Canada’s Most Powerful Women, she is celebrated for her signature 3 C’s framework — Confidence, Communication, and Culture — which has influenced organizations across healthcare, corporate, and entrepreneurial sectors.
Her journey is anything but ordinary. She has been a semi-professional pianist, founder of a rock ’n’ roll music school, territory manager at Nestlé Ice Cream, dentist specializing in cancer care, and Education Director at a leading oncology centre. Today, she lives in Victoria, owns two dental practices, and loves hiking with her dog, Artemis.
Her speaking journey began in oncology and dentistry, teaching clinicians how to improve the patient’s quality of life. As an educator, she challenged the outdated shame-based teaching model, replacing it with positive reinforcement and just the right
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