Investing in your Current Team Trumps Hiring a New Team

Leading and managing your team in your dental practice is hard.

The complaints about this from dentists are legendary. Every single dentist that I know has been frustrated, disappointed, or damaged in some way by a previous team member. Those experiences make it easy to live in isolation and self protection, rather than choosing to invest in your team.

In 2022, this is multiplied by severe shortages of qualified applicants for any and every position in the practice organization. We understand the burden.

In contrast, every time that I teach a class for dental assistants, they ask the question:

“How do I get my dentist to do ______________?”

The blank is filled in with the most basic leadership behaviors required by an effective dentist / practice owner.

It seems that the most difficult aspect of working in a dental practice is working with and for a dentist who doesn’t engage and respond to the needs of the team and the needs of the practice that they own.

When this conversation comes up with dentists, I get two responses to my questions about the state of their team.

• One response says that everything is great. It sounds great until the conversation yields more detail.
• The second response is one of resignation. They have given up on creating anything better.

When I ask either of them what they are doing to invest in their team, to build a stronger practice culture and a higher performing team, the answer eventually is that they aren’t really doing anything.

At least they aren’t doing anything that is really changing the mindset and performance of their team.

It doesn’t have to be that way. Creating something better does require that you are willing to enter the messiness of change. It is like running into the fire instead of away from it.

The work of developing a high performing team will pay you back in multiples, many times over many years.

It can make your career fun, meaningful, and more profitable.

We know what to do and how to do it at Line of Sight Coaching. This is one of the top areas we work with our clients on – developing their peak performing team.

There are two ways to build a high performing team. You either:

• Invest in your current team.
  or
• Hire a new team.

Most practice owners go for the second option of hiring a new team, because it is often seen as the “easier” option. It doesn’t require change with current people, it means you just have to find those peak performing people.

Well, let me share a secret about hiring a ready-to-go-peak-performing team…

The odds are very slim that is what you will get.

THE BEST PATH TO A PEAK PERFORMING TEAM?? – Invest in your Current Team. 

Your results will be better in the end – and cost less when you take the time to invest in your current team.

If you want to keep great team members you invest in them because they want to grow with you. They will feel better about themselves and as the leader you can inspire and work with them to make sure you both get the results you are seeking with your careers.

The practices stuck with under-performing teams are stuck because of the leader. Don’t be that leader. The one who doesn’t engage, respond, or inspire their team to more success, for everyone.

Reach out to us to schedule a complimentary 15 minute phone call.

We’ve been there ourselves, and we’ve helped many other dentists and doctors build those dream teams and practices with leadership skills that become second nature. You can build a more profitable practice everyone wants to be part of – you, your staff and patients – it all starts with the leader.

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Wondering what coaching programs we offer dentists, doctors, and their team members?

Here is an outline of each one below. If you feel one would be a fit for you or your team, please reach out to us.

All of our coaching techniques are based upon the coaching principles developed using the Leadership Circle 360 Profile tools.

Taking part in the programs will help you:

• Solve the urgent problems that are your immediate barriers
• Become more effective leaders, practice owners and teams.
• Create strong dental practice cultures & leveraging the talents of your team
• Build more profitable & peak performing practices

Leader to Leader Coaching: This program is for the dentist or doctor and offers you a way to get the coaching to help you develop your leadership and coaching skills by working with us one-on-one as well as in our monthly group sessions.

Leadership Team Coaching: This program is for the leadership team in your practice and offers private and group sessions to help the team members work WITH the doctors to build that profitable practice everyone wants to be part of. This program is ideal for Office Managers, Practice Administrators, Hygiene Department Leads, Administrative Leads, Lead RDA’s, Doctors Spouse/Business Managers, or any folks who are a vital part of the Leadership Team in your organization.

Mastermind Groups: These monthly mastermind groups are open only to clients who have been through our coaching programs. They offer a continued way to get the coaching and support in a peer to peer setting.

If you want to inquire about joining any of our coaching programs, or to work privately with us, please reach out and book a complimentary call with us.