If there is one way to ensure that you never achieve the results you deserve to have as you find yourself plateauing in your practice year after year, look no further than\u2026<\/p>\n
Your Leadership.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s right.\u00a0 Every day I tell my doctors you have two responsibilities above all others: motivate the team and diagnose the patients.\u00a0 Without both of these as your core focus, you will be a very frustrated doctor.<\/p>\n
Now, I have a much different take on leadership than you might think.\u00a0 You see, the majority of all the doctors coming to me say, \u201cI am not a very good leader,\u201d or \u201cI want to be a better leader,\u201d or \u201cI don\u2019t know how to lead my team.\u201d<\/p>\n
The reason you are not a good leader OR perhaps better stated: not as effective at leadership as you are capable of being and that is necessary for your success and the goals you desire is because you suffer from either one of two issues\u2026<\/p>\n
1st<\/sup> \u2013 You never have had the experience, coaching, support, guidance or even ambition to become a great and inspiring leader before.<\/p>\n 2nd<\/sup> \u2013 You could have been following someone else\u2019s leadership style, a random seminar, book, course, box of \u2018you know what\u2019 that you picked up from some management company or you are listening to one of those \u201cnewsletter\u201d guys.<\/p>\n Leadership has to be natural.\u00a0 It can\u2019t be faked or forced.\u00a0 And you don\u2019t have to be someone you are not.<\/p>\n Sure, there are key things that you must embrace if you are going to be effective \u2013 but aside from that \u2013 no one else is going to give you a cookie cutter plan for your own practice management and team leadership that is going to actually work for you unless it is created for and embraced by you.<\/p>\n To start with, let\u2019s be clear about why leadership matters\u2026<\/p>\n Because your team will never be you and they aren\u2019t suppose to be.\u00a0 You are the doctor.\u00a0 They are the team.\u00a0 It\u2019s your practice; they know that.\u00a0 They have a life.\u00a0 They see dentistry as yours.\u00a0 Therefore, no one else is ever going to work as hard or care as much as the owner.\u00a0 And they shouldn\u2019t.\u00a0 We shouldn\u2019t expect them to.<\/p>\n You want career-based team members who continue to grow and develop along with your practice.<\/p>\n And there in lies the key\u2026<\/p>\n Not just more patients.<\/p>\n Not just new procedures.<\/p>\n Not just fancy equipment.<\/p>\n Not just any one thing or every thing is ever going to make you as much money, help as many patients, provide you with a healthy practice that is enjoyable to be at, work in, call your own\u2026<\/p>\n Other than YOUR LEADERSHIP with your team and your commitment to personal (not just professional) development of your people.\u00a0 They are the magic inside of your practice.<\/p>\n Team Members and all people (including YOU), need inspiration, challenges, purpose and direction.<\/p>\n This matters.\u00a0 That is what Leadership is about.<\/p>\n You can do all the other things right and yet without this you will be fighting an uphill battle.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s what you must do, five keys\u2026<\/p>\n 1 \u2013 Decide and commit to the importance of leadership<\/p>\n 2 \u2013 Remember that the best way to lead is \u2013 BY EXAMPLE<\/p>\n 3 \u2013 set up structure so that you can lead effectively and you don\u2019t fall back into old or bad habits<\/p>\n \u2026This requires you to listen to your team members, have individual meetings with them, keep your commitments and follow through on what you say (they notice, believe me).<\/p>\n 4 \u2013 You want to help each person set individual and team goals and have a plan to achieve them<\/p>\n 5 \u2013 You want to bring personal development through books, activities or other things into your practice<\/p>\n You don\u2019t have to lead alone.\u00a0 There are many tools, resources and strategies to do this with.\u00a0 My doctors would all say one of their greatest benefits and personal changes is how much more responsibility they take over their own success by way of being a better leader in their practice, with their team, for their business.<\/p>\n Just remember you don\u2019t have to be anyone else.\u00a0 You have to be you and figure out what your right and best approach is.\u00a0 Your attitude, energy and mentality are the fastest, easiest and most impactful ways to lead your team without even trying that much.<\/p>\n You can\u2019t not lead though; because no one wants to work (let alone do well, go above and beyond, and take extra initiative), for someone who doesn\u2019t want to win and who doesn\u2019t take their own success serious.<\/p>\n Know this: you are being watched.\u00a0 Everyone notices what you do or do not do \u2013 what you say or do not say.\u00a0 Put the last couple week\u2019s Weekly Reports together and you will see that leadership boils down to this\u2026<\/p>\n Are your actions congruent with your goals?\u00a0 Does your behavior match with the vision you say you want?<\/p>\n Leaders give others confidence by having confidence in themselves and in those around them.\u00a0 Go to work on yourself and your team.\u00a0 You will be amazed at how much more successful you become without any other gimmicks or bright shiny objects in your practice.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"