Care for Others and Trust: How Listening and Empathy Strengthen Dental Teams

Care for Others is the third building block of trust. It reflects how teams listen, show empathy, and demonstrate support — not through perks or “pizza party culture,” but through genuine human connection. When dental teams care for each other as people, trust grows, communication improves, and patient experience becomes more human.

Key Questions This Page Answers

• What does “care for others” really mean in the workplace?
• Why is listening the foundation of care?
• How does empathy show up in dental teams and patient interactions?
• What is the difference between cognitive, emotional, and compassionate empathy?
• Why is care for others as essential as competence and problem solving?

Episode Snapshot

• Hosts: Dr. Matt Allen and Dr. Cory Scheer
• Topic: Care for Others as a building block of trust
• Part of: Most Trusted Dentists Mini-Series

Key Topics Covered

• Misconceptions: why care is not “perks” or “seasoning”
• The three types of empathy
• Listening as a core trust behavior
• Recognizing effort, not just outcomes
• Repairing trust through meaningful apologies
• Showing care in daily huddles, handoffs, and team communication
• Integrating care into practice and organizational culture

Episode Highlights

• Care for others is the “human glue” of trust
• The first act of care is listening with intent
• Apologies matter — and must take responsibility
• Teams with high competence and problem solving but no care feel harsh
• Teams with care but low competence and problem solving feel chaotic
• Trust requires all three building blocks in balance

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