Backward (Upside Down) Thinking

Backward (Upside Down) Thinking

True Leadership

When we think of leadership in a small business, like a dental practice, we often think of it in this manner: The leader (the dentist/owner) is at the top then there are a few (depending upon practice size, of course) mid-level working supervisors who manage the assistants, hygienists, and administrative staff.  This management style (remember, people can be led but not managed) has been accepted for decades in the military, in corporations, in education, and even in families.  Well, it is completely inaccurate, and it does not work.    Extensive research has shown that this is the best organizational chart for a successful company, but it does not work for smaller businesses. The people who need the most support and training are the people at the bottom of the pyramid who actually work with patients. 

Forgetting that the dentist has two roles in his/her practice for a minute...leader and clinician, just consider who actually spends the most time with your patients.  Typically, they are the assistants, hygienists, and administrative staff.  In too many offices these are the low-level positions, and they are thought to be at the bottom of the team pyramid.   

Leaders do not sit.

In our first graphic the leader sits at the top, and in our second graphic the leader holds up the rest of the team.  Any successful leader knows that sitting at the top is not successful.  This sort of thinking is why there is so much resentment to the higher income brackets from zero-sum thinkers.  The leader is, in fact, the hardest job in the organization.  It usually pays the most for that very reason.  The leader's true job is to support the next level who then support those who actually work directly with the patients.  The number of levels varies by organization size, but the job is the same.

                         

                             Figure 1                                                                           Figure 2

                               

The job of the leader is to support, serve, and enable his/her staff.  Sitting at the top is not part of the job.  First, carefully screen, vet, and hire your team.  Then, the real job of making sure they have everything they need to make the patients' experiences worthy of reference begins.  It is a hard, tiring job because leading and serving can only be done properly if the leader has earned the authority to lead.  Power gained through controlling the purse strings goes only so far.  True success comes from serving those who serve the patients.  In fact, the real leader is more of a servant than a dictator.

Please feel free to leave your comments below or email me at wisdom@wisedentist.com.  If you would like to discuss one-on-one leadership training either at our Suwannee River Retreat or in your office, contact us by email or by phone at 813-963-7228.

      Have a great week,

L. Hurston Anderson, PhD

Professionally Managed Practices, Inc.

wisdom@wisedentist.com

813-963-7228

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What is Your "Role" in Your Practice?

What is Your “Role” in Your Practice?

William Shakespeare was an entrepreneur whose income was earned from writing and producing plays in his theatre.  Certainly, he did not get rich like Tom Hanks or Steven Spielberg, but many of the things he wrote have become well-known apothegms (adages) in our time.  It is astounding how often people confuse Shakespearen quotes with quotes from the Bible. 

One of most famous of Shakespeare's lines is spoken by Jacques, the grouch in As You Like It, who remarks that “All the world's a stage, and all the men and women are merely players;”.  Though I think Shakespeare speaking through Jacques had something different in mind, it is true that we all play a specific role in each area (play) of our lives.  

Some dentists do not know what their role is in their own practices while, in reality, they have two.  First, the dentist is the doctor with total clinical responsibility.  This is a major role, and it would be great if it were the only role for the dentist.  But it is not.  There is another vital role, the practice owner, and this is where more dentists are confused.  Are they the supervisor, manager, boss, leader, or all in one? 

Let's get realistic.  People cannot be managed.  They must manage themselves.  So, the dentist is not a Manager.  Also, outside the treatment area the dentist is not present to supervise.  Because a Supervisor must be present to supervise, the dentist is not a Supervisor of the business.  Certainly, the owner who hires, fires, and signs payroll checks is the boss, but what is that role exactly?  In all the most productive offices, the owner/dentist is a leader.  So, that is the real second role of the dentist.

There are two approaches to leadership, but there is only one approach that succeeds in the long term.  Unfortunately, that approach is hardest...like everything else in life.  You can lead either because you have power over those whom you employee, or you can lead by having established authority over those whom you employ.  There is a not so subtle difference that must be understood.  Power can be gained merely by exercising it at the time of hiring, but authority is earned in many ways over time. 

We have all known, seen, worked for, or been the type of leader who finally resorts to some version of “Do it because I said so...or else!”  This works as long as the employee has no other option for employment.  If you want to lead in this manner, you will have high turnover, high salary costs, and lower than average success.  This is what I call the Slaveholder style of leadership which works only as long as employee has no real option to leave.  People who are forced to work due to their inferior position in an organization will work just well enough to keep from being fired.  You would be amazed how many dentists use this inferior method of leadership.

To get the best results from a staff, and to more nearly maximize the potential of your dental practice, you need to lead your staff due to the authority you have earned.  This is a process that takes time, dedication, and concentration, but it is possible for any dentist if he/she is willing to put forth the effort to become a great leader. 

I will be covering this subject in more detail over the next few weeks.  If you know someone who needs this lesson either forward the emails or ask him/her to subscribe.  There are also books I will be recommending and exercises I will be suggesting.  I have been working on this for some time, so I hope it will be of value.

If your practice is just not where it should be financially or is not running harmoniously, let me know, and I will see if I can suggest some resources, actions, or methods. 

Have a great week,

Hurston

Professionally Managed Practices, Inc.

wisedentist@gmail.com

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