181: The Associate Playbook: Hiring, Leading, and Retaining Top Talent

Hiring an associate should create more freedom and opportunity, but without the right systems, it can quickly become an expensive and frustrating mistake. In this episode, Dr. Jason shares a live presentation from Dental Nachos’ Boost Camp focused on the complete associate lifecycle: determining whether your practice is ready, recruiting proactively, choosing the right candidate, onboarding effectively, providing meaningful mentorship, and building long-term retention. Drawing from more than 20 years of experience hiring and leading associates, Jason explains why turnover is often a leadership problem rather than a people problem. He shares the systems he uses to assess clinical competency, identify coachability, structure the first 90 days, set clear expectations, and help new associates build confidence without feeling like they have been left on an island. You’ll also learn the key metrics that may signal it is time to hire, why bringing on an associate initially creates more work rather than less, and what top talent needs to remain engaged and committed. If you are considering your first associate, struggling to retain the ones you have, or ready to build a practice where doctors can grow for the long haul, this episode offers a practical playbook for getting it right.