Developing Leadership Skills
Setting the foundation for a successful practice will require a combination of both technical expertise and leadership skills.
Arguably, leaders are not born; they are made through intentional effort and planning. Leadership skills, while typically not emphasized in dental schools, can make or break the future success of your practice and team. Immerse yourself in leadership books and resources as you develop the ethics and culture of your practice. Prepare to earn trust through professional dialogue and consistent behavior.
The first step in honing your leadership skills is to create a vision for your practice. It will provide clarity for you and inspire your current and future employees. A mission statement answers the question, “How do we achieve the vision?” Once your team is in place, solicit their feedback when creating your mission statement. Their input will also serve to create greater buy-in and inspiration.
In addition to your vision, you need to understand healthy business benchmarks and set your goals accordingly. Use the P&Ls in the resource section to know and understand the difference between a start-up and established practice business expenses and overhead goals. You will also need to establish a monthly protocol with your front office team to review pertinent monthly financial reports. You will find a “Monthly Financial Review for the Doctor” resource to aid you in that process.
