Q&A Dino Watt

Dino Watt

Solving the Employee Retention Puzzle (and Making Mondays Fun Again)

Dino Watt is an internationally renowned business trainer and author of the #1 best-selling books The Practice Rx, Hire and Fire Like a Boss, and Mastering Virtual Consults. Known as “the Tony Robbins of private practices,” Dino’s mission is to help leaders and teams create passion, productivity, and profitability in all areas of life.

At OP Summit 2025 in Las Vegas, Dino will take the stage to help orthodontists solve one of the profession’s most painful and expensive challenges: high team turnover. In his session, “Solving the Employee Roulette Puzzle,” Dino brings his signature energy, humor, and real-world insights to show practice owners how to build stronger, more loyal teams—and make Mondays fun again.

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Q: Dino, you're well-known in the orthodontic space, but you didn’t start here. How did you get into this field, and what makes your work so different from other consultants?

A: It’s true—I didn’t set out to work in orthodontics. My background is in communication, relationships, and high-performance coaching. I actually came into this world through Scott Law, who was one of my first clients in the space. He said, “You’re doing something no one else is doing. We need you here.” And that was it.

What makes me different is that I don’t come in talking about brackets, aligners, or clinical efficiencies. I focus on the people—on reversing burnout, restoring passion, and building connection between doctors, teams, and patients. I’m also one of only a handful of Certified Speaking Professionals in dentistry, which means I’m not just sharing theories—I’ve spent over 20 years crafting talks that entertain, connect, and move people to take action. Oh, and yes—I dance. If I’m not dancing on stage, the audience is dancing with me.

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Q: Your lecture at OP Summit 2025 is all about employee retention. Why is this such a crucial issue in orthodontics today?

A: Because the hiring roulette wheel has gotten out of control. That’s actually the new title I’m playing with for this talk: “Solving the Employee Roulette Puzzle.” It’s become a gamble—teams are stretched thin, the job market is shifting, and people just aren’t sticking around. And when that happens, doctors burn out, patients feel it, and the practice suffers.

What I teach is that it all starts with hiring. Most practices max out at three or four interviews—if that—and then hand someone the keys to the kingdom. But hiring is not about filling a seat; it’s about building culture, trust, and alignment. I’ll walk attendees through how to hire smarter, onboard better, and retain longer. The goal isn’t just to have “a team”—it’s to have the right team, one that’s all-in even when the going gets tough.

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Q: Will your lecture include real examples from practices that have made this work?

A: Absolutely. I’ll share stories from real orthodontic offices that went from chaotic to magnetic just by changing their approach to hiring and culture. I’ll also draw on examples from companies like Dave Ramsey’s organization and Zappos—brands that are masters of culture and retention.

Orthodontists often think, “Well, that works for a big business, but my practice is different.” It’s not. The principles of leadership, culture, and connection are universal. The difference is most ortho practices just haven’t applied them with intention—yet.

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Q: You talk a lot about culture. How does improving culture directly impact the practice’s bottom line?

A: Great culture isn’t fluff—it’s a profit strategy. When your team feels valued, seen, and aligned with your mission, they work harder, stay longer, and care deeper. That translates into higher productivity, better patient experiences, and more referrals. And it makes your life as a doctor infinitely better. You’re not spending your time putting out fires or re-training new hires every six months.

Culture affects how people show up on Monday morning. It affects whether a team member goes the extra mile or just does the bare minimum. When you invest in culture—just like Apple or Disney does—it becomes a magnet for the right team and the right patients. And that’s when the magic (and the profit) starts.

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Q: What’s your message to orthodontists who might feel frustrated or stuck with their team dynamics?

A: You’re not alone—and it’s fixable. The chaos you’re feeling isn’t because you’re a bad leader. It’s because no one taught you how to build a magnetic culture. That’s what this lecture is about. We’re going to stop guessing and start building systems that work.

If you want to walk into your office and feel energy instead of dread… if you want your team to stay through the hard times, not just the good ones… if you want to stop spinning the roulette wheel every time you post a job… then this talk is for you.

And yes, we’ll laugh. Yes, we’ll dance. But most importantly—you’ll leave with tools to make your team stronger, your culture tighter, and your Mondays actually enjoyable again.

Ready to solve the employee roulette puzzle for good?

Register for OP Summit 2025 and catch Dino Watt live on stage.

🎟 Use promo code WATT200 for $200 off your ticket.

This talk alone could change the way you lead—forever.