Be a better leader... Be a better leader...
Most dentists have this thought running through their minds when there are issues in their practices that need to be addressed.
In today’s increasingly competitive environment, it is more important than ever for dentists to hone their leadership abilities. First, however, dentists must decide what kind of leader they are now and what kind of leader they would like to be.
The Five Phases of Leadership Development
In its two decades of consulting to thousands of practices, Levin Group has identified five phases of leadership. Most dentists find themselves in one of these five categories, and move between phases at different points in their careers:
Phase 1: The New Leader: New leaders are just starting out in dentistry. Well-educated and competent in performing dentistry, they have no experience in running a dental practice. They have no systems in place, and are “winging it” as far as running the practice is concerned. This phase typically lasts for one to three years.
Phase 2: The Competent Leader: Competent leaders have been in practice for a few years and have settled into a routine that works reasonably well. Doctors reach this level by virtue of working and learning through experience. Their production is very respectable, although usually below what they are capable of achieving.
Phase 3: The Overworked Leader: Overworked leaders are “maxed out.” They are frustrated, tired, and stressed. This phase usually begins around the fourth or fifth year of practice and can continue until retirement. It is not a good situation to be in. For these dentists, it is the business side of dentistry that is making life difficult—not the clinical aspects. These doctors also have something in common with Phase 2 dentists; they are typically earning significantly below their potential. Unfortunately, many dentists spend the majority of their careers in this phase.
Phase 4: The “Works Through Others” Leader: You should aspire to be at this level. Remember that working through others is not the same as delegating. With delegation, you tell team members what to do and make sure that they understand their responsibilities. You give them a deadline, and then you assess how they accomplished the task. This, of course, is better than doing it yourself, but it’s still a great deal of work.
Working through others is “permanent.” Your staff members are not being micromanaged or delegated to. Instead, they are given the total job and are trusted to perform it capably. This allows them to use their skills and competencies and frees you up to do your job.
Phase 5: The Strategic Leader: Phase 5 is a level to which you may or may not aspire. It is the level at which the leader is there to think and to be a resource but not to do the day-to-day work. Most dentists love dentistry and want to practice their profession but they don’t want to be only a resource; however, there will be times when you will want to function at this level for a small portion of your day. For example, when you are defining your vision and working with your team to set goals, you are acting as a strategic leader. Doing so is a worthwhile endeavor and can take your practice to a higher level of productivity.
Becoming the Leader You Want to Be
Which phase seems to describe your level of leadership? Levin Group finds that most dentists become phase 2 or phase 3 leaders. Far fewer move on to Phase 4, which is the ideal phase for dentists.
In order to become a Phase 4 doctor, the following must take place:
- Dentists must recognize that they are not available to truly manage their practices.You are constantly involved with clinical care and have limited time to be a true, full-time hands-on manager. Every dentist should build a management team that understands the goals of the practice. The role of the dentist then becomes the evaluator of key performance indicators to guarantee that the right results are being achieved.
- As the leader in the practice, the dentist must create a vision for the practice. A vision statement clearly focuses on where you are going and serves as an internal document to guide decision-making. It should demonstrate to your team that the dentist as the leader and CEO has an understanding of where he is trying to take the practice.
- Dentists must understand that as leaders, they must coach their team members.Begin by developing a written job description for every team member. Provide continuing education and skills training courses as well. You should also present a list of yearly objectives for each team member and have regular performance review meetings with those objectives in mind.
- Dentists must create a work environment that encourages regular communication. The key to communicating effectively begins with your ability to listen. Recognize that listening is something you do for professional and personal success. You do not listen just to be nice to others. Listening earns power, respect, and gratitude, and gets you the information you need to be effective.
Conclusion
Leadership is one of the more challenging business skills to develop. Any doctor can be a better leader and should view this as an essential aspect of his or her own personal business development. Leadership is not a quantitative issue, but one that can be mastered—and it makes an incredible difference in the practice. The challenge is that you do not develop leadership skills overnight or get results in a week. It takes approximately 10-12 months in order for leadership, motivation, attitude, direction, and enthusiasm to take effect. But once your leadership skills are deeply engrained, your entire outlook on dentistry will change.
Remember that the “works through others” leader—Phase 4 leadership—is within the grasp of every dentist who can delegate responsibility, create a vision, coach team members, and create an office that communicates well.