You’ve built a beautiful dental practice: a place where smiles happen every day. But lately, you've been eyeing the bakery down the street, wondering if a bigger pie — more patients, more procedures — is the recipe for ultimate success. Hold on, Doc! Before you get swept up in the hustle, let’s consider what you’re carving out.
The path to a thriving dental practice demands strong leadership. But what separates good leaders from elite ones? Here are three key mindsets that elevate your leadership—and your practice’s culture:
In our last installment of the Leadership Corner Blog, “The Worst Advice I got in Dental School,” I introduced the three leaders in your practice: the Entrepreneur, the Boss, and the Clinician. If you are the practice owner and wondering who these three are in your practice, the answer is you. All three are you!
“Just do good dentistry and the rest will take care of itself.” We all heard this same advice in dental school. At the time it was comforting as it allowed me to continue to simply focus on attaining clinical skill. However, as I approach my 20 year dental school reunion, I can confidently say this is poor advice. While the intent comes from a good place, the application is certainly flawed.
That three or six-month dental visit patients schedule and appreciate for their clean and polished teeth is so much more important than they realize. That visit is an integral part of their health and wellness. Let’s pause for a moment and recall that 47% of American adults (over age 30) have periodontitis – that’s 64.7 million Americans – which means they have chronic infected ulcerations. The situation is so pervasive that hygiene departments can legitimately be renamed “Chronic Oral Wound Care Centers.”
In a busy dental practice, efficiency is key. But when it comes to tackling problems, sometimes the quickest solution isn't the best approach. You see, problems are like dandelions: you can mow over them and admire a lush, green lawn, but those pesky weeds will be back before you know it! The root of the problem is still there, lurking beneath the surface, ready to sprout again. The same goes for problems in your practice.
Communication is one of the biggest challenges that dental teams face, but it’s such a critical component to a great practice. A team that communicates well will outperform one that doesn’t, every single time. But great communication doesn’t just happen—it takes intention. You as the leader must guide the way,
Imagine your ideal dental practice. Happy team, thriving patients, an office that buzzes with purpose. Now, how do you get there? How can you inspire that kind of culture?
Nothing can throw a wrench into your daily schedule like an unforeseen, unexpected emergency. Thankfully, in the world of dentistry, true emergencies are rare. Yet, frantic patients often perceive emergencies, creating a ripple effect on your entire practice.
You’re faced with challenges and decisions on a daily basis, and it’s easy to lose your way while trying to navigate them all. Just like a lighthouse leads a boat to safety, you need a beacon to guide you toward success, and that beacon is your core values. We LOVE core values here at ACT, and it’s likely
