Dental coach asks: how important is good leadership?

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How important is good leadership asks dental business coach Andy McDougall from Spot On Business Planning[/caption]For the next few blogs, dental business consultant Andy McDougall of Spot On Business Planning is taking a detailed look at the importance of leadership.As the dental world becomes more competitive and private patients exert their right to choose their dental provider; and as the costs of running a dental practice increase year on year, so the pressure grows for dental business owners to adapt to these changing circumstances.Growth and improved profitability are essential to long-term success and as such, practice principals must determine the most appropriate strategy and lead their teams to achieve it. The success or failure of your leadership skills will become clearly visible in your results. So what’s the secret?The only way to achieve your strategic goals is to harness the whole dental team in pursuit of your vision. A culture that fails to galvanise the entire dental team risks a radically negative impact on results. As the head of your dental business there is an expectation that you will lead your team to success.You’re the principal dentist, the dental business owner, the assumed leader of your dental practice, but can you answer a definitive yes to the following fundamental questions?

• Do you have a compelling vision of where you are leading your dental team?
• Would your dental team be able to articulate your vision?
• Can you determine a strategy that delivers your vision?
• Are you a leader or a manager? Do you know the difference?
• Can you create a high performing dental team?

In other words; would you be led by you?

What does leadership look like?

Leadership and management have their roots in the church and military with command and control structures where orders are passed down the line. Akin to when I say jump, you say yes sir, how high? But that is not the case today. With the availability of education, advances in technology and globalisation, and the growth in entrepreneurship; leaders and managers emerge from multiple backgrounds. And employee expectations have changed too. Now when leaders say jump, they should be prepared to hear the response ‘why should I?’People expect to be led differently than they did even 30 years ago and if you expect your team to follow you because of your position, you may be in for a sad awakening. Leadership and management skills are just that; talents that must be learned and developed. If you want to achieve better results and harness the strengths of a fully committed, motivated team to deliver your strategic plan, then you need to invest in your leadership and management skills. To be successful you need both: they are the opposite sides of the same coin. Remember to:

• Communicate your vision clearly and consistently
• Be clear in your expectations
• Monitor and communicate progress

In the moments of decision your destiny is reached

Where you and your dental practice will be in 3, 5 or 10 years time is very much linked to the decisions you make between now and then. Typically when you make the right decisions and you follow through an implement those decisions with great leadership skills, you can expect to double your profits over a three-year period.

Book a free consultation with Andy McDougall

At Spot On Business Planning we do things differently. Instead of giving advice then leaving you to implement it, we take the journey with you, as your dental business partner. We ensure you and your team understand how to run your dental practice by transferring the necessary leadership, decision making and business planning skills along the way.Your numbers can talk but do you speak their language? Learn a lot about your dental business with a free consultation with Andy McDougall. Send us your last three years financial accounts, Andy will analyse them and visit you to explain the strengths and weaknesses he reads in your numbers. Contact us today to find out more.