Naturally, many dentists are concerned about the efficiency of the systems they have in place, the productivity of their team, the profitability of their practice—among many other things. One thing many dentists don’t take into consideration is their development and abilities as a leader. Owning a dental practice means you are a team leader. And in order to see improvement in your dental office, you need to work on improving yourself as a leader.
If you’re undergoing a dental practice transition, don’t labor under the assumption that your dental practice will get better with time. It won’t get better if you don’t get better. Here are some signs your leadership could use some improvement:
- Having a high turnover rate
- Declining or stagnating profits
- Confusing and disorganized systems
- Low employee morale
These are not problems that can be easily solved at the administrative level. These are problems are much deeper than that and need to be addressed in the form of improving leadership. Don’t worry, it’s not hopeless. Here’s how can get started in addressing the problem.
You and Your Team
Dental practice transitions can be strenuous on your practice. Your staff relies on your leadership to direct your clinic and guide the team in everything from setting and achieving long-term goals to the day to day operations of the office. Leaders inspire others to be loyal to them, to believe in the mission, and take ownership of their work. Remember, people aren’t loyal to facilities; they’re loyal to leaders. You’ve likely heard the saying, “people don’t quit jobs, they quit bad managers.” Dental practices are no different.
Leadership also plays a huge role in recruiting new staff to your clinic. Think about the type of potential employees you want to attract. Has your leadership cultivated an environment that inspires those who interact with your practice to want to work there? Here’s the thing about attracting high quality applicants—you don’t find them, they find you.
Cultivate a Stable Environment
Building a good dental practice takes a lot of time, hard work, and some trial and error. It can be daunting, especially when the results you want to see aren’t immediately visible. It’s important to not give up. Continue to set goals and expectations through consistent routines and strategies. Invest the time to learn leadership skills that will help you be the leader your team needs you to be.
Ask for Help
For some people, asking for help isn’t easy. But building a profitable dental practice is not a one-person show. If you know your leadership skills need polishing or improvement, it’s okay to seek outside help. Dental practice management consultants are experienced in giving dental clinicians the tools they need to grow a profitable dental practice, and that includes leadership training.
If the profitability of your dental practice has begun to plateau, or staff morale is low, or you just feel overwhelmed by a lack of organization in your practice, you need to contact experienced dental practice management consultants like Aptus Exchange. We have over 47 years of experience that includes coaching dental practitioners in being exceptional leaders.
