Riding a Dead Horse

The extremes to which we'll go to avoid change

by Anonymous

The Dakota Indians have a saying, "When you discover you are riding a dead horse, dismount."

Clearly, many of us in dentistry have never absorbed this tidbit of wisdom. For, in dentistry, when something, someone or some idea shows every indicator of a lack of "life" -- we often go to extreme measures to work around our "dead horse."

Some of the more advanced strategies employed in order to ride a dead horse include:

1. Buying a stronger whip. The dead horse just needs more negative reinforcement.

2. Changing riders. A better rider will surely improve the dead horse's performance.

3. Threatening to fire the horse. This should really get it going.

4. Scheduling a meeting to study the horse. We need to look at all our options.

5. Arranging to visit other practices to study how they ride dead horses. They must use some secret technique.

6. Lowering expectations. Do we really need a horse that can walk?

7. Re-defining the dead horse's situation. The horse is clearly "living impaired", what can we do?

8. Hiring consultants to motivate the dead horse. The horse just needs to be energized.

9. Harnessing several dead horses together. Obviously, two dead horses are better than one.

10. Providing additional training for the dead horse. The horse just lacks knowledge regarding how to walk.

11. Reducing the dead horse's workload. We're probably overtaxing it.

12. Deciding that the dead horse is really an asset. It doesn't have to be fed, is less messy, and reduces overhead. Why would we want an expensive live horse?

13. Lowering performance requirements for all dead horses. That's just how dead horses are... what can you do?

14. Promoting the dead horse. Maybe if we just improve the horse's self esteem it will perform better.