There’s one thing that every successful dental practice has in common, and it goes beyond their production: they have a culture of trust. The opening speaker at GLS in 2023, Craig Groeschel, explained an incredibly powerful concept: the future of leadership is trust, and in order to attain it, there are three qualities one must combine: transparency, empathy, and consistency. Without trust, patient relationships suffer, team morale declines, and leadership influence weakens, so building a culture of trust is more important than ever. However, like Kirk says, “You don’t get people’s trust—you earn it,” so you must first learn how to demonstrate transparency, empathy, and consistency:
- Transparency. One of Craig Groeschel’s most thought-provoking comments was that people don’t admire a leader’s strength—they connect with a leader’s weaknesses. When you’re open about your struggles, that authenticity will cause your team to form a deeper connection with who you are. Furthermore, transparency is crucial to a functioning business, and you can cultivate it by keeping the team informed about changes, decision-making processes, and expectations. The goal is to create communication rhythms, and then lean on them to build trust.
- Empathy. One of the key components to empathy is the ability to listen, because listening strengthens relationships. When leaders ask thoughtful questions and genuinely listen to the responses, it tells the team members that they are valued, and that’s a strong foundation for a trust-based relationship. Additionally, getting the team involved in these decision-making processes helps them buy into the business and create a sense of respect and collaboration. While listening is the first step to creating empathy, you need to take it further by building an appreciative workplace—expressing gratitude and recognition when they’re deserved.
- Consistency. When leaders communicate their expectations clearly, reward behaviors that align with those expectations, and promptly address inconsistencies, it goes a long way toward strengthening trust. Here’s the thing, though: it doesn’t stop with holding team members accountable—consistency also applies to the leader. It falls on you to be the Chief Reminding Officer and make sure that you’re creating predictability in the practice.
Ultimately, trust isn’t built in a day. It’s hard work, and it’s the culmination of every patient and team interaction that you have each day. Your job as the leader is not to strive toward some unattainable ideal, but rather to make incremental, intentional steps toward creating trust in the practice. With Empathy, Transparency, and Consistency as your pillars, you’ll build a thriving dental practice with a truly phenomenal team!
To learn more about ACT and how we can help you build a Better Practice and a Better Life, reach out to Courtney!
Join the Best Practices Association today and gain access to an incredible community and our great resources!
Tune in next time and learn how tracking numbers will improve your Hygiene department!
