Globalisation, technology and innovations are rapidly changing how dentistry is perceived, performed and understood. Of course, this opens doorways to better and more enhanced ways of doing things, but it also creates a more complex world with uncertainty and confusion.

We are generating and dealing with more information than ever before. There are now so many choices available for the principal dentist as to how business should be conducted that it often leads to stagnation or ineffective decision-making. This further fuels frustration and inefficiency.

So, how do you survive and thrive amid this complexity?

How do you sort signals from noise and focus on the opportunities that matter most?

In my experience as a business coach, I have noticed how many dentists have stumbled and struggled. In response to a changing world, they create an overabundance of processes, layers, key performance indicators and other internal mechanisms. This organisational mishmash fails to address the complexity they face or the fundamental elements of core business strategy. Because the world is becoming more complex, organisational structures and processes do not need to follow suit.

Developing creative solutions to complex challenges

In my opinion, there is only one possible answer that can address this problem, and that is through Entrepreneurial Leadership (EL). This is where there is structure but no fixed priority. The Entrepreneurial Leader will always have his or her eye on the main objective of the task but will also develop the flexibility to foster creative solutions to these complex challenges in everyday practice.

 

There are three key areas to re-focus on during uncertain times:

  1. Vision.

    This is how you see your future for both entry and exit from your business. This is the “dream” that you want to achieve. The questions to ask are – Are you on track? Does the change facilitate or hinder your progress? How can you convert it creatively into an opportunity?

  2. Financial Model.

    This is where you establish clear metrics that you can track, record and evaluate to achieve your goals and ultimately, your Vision. As long as your solutions are keeping you in line with your estimated financial goals, you should be okay. If they are not, then you need to re-evaluate where the holes in your business operations need to be plugged.

  1. Leadership: There are two aspects to consider when understanding Leadership:
    1. How to work “on” your Team – This is where you establish leadership skills to inspire and motivate your team to follow you in achieving your Vision. It is the art of getting others to do the things you need them to do because they want to do it.
    2. How to work “in” your Team – This is where you establish protocols for improvements within your Team. This can include management systems, practice team agreements, increasing skills and training and meetings for a proper business function. It helps to create true Teamwork – a committed group of individuals working cohesively towards a standard set of goals. However, the key here is to establish the correct priorities to make creative solutions occur. This means that decision-making from the EL needs to become more fluid than restrictive.

 

What we want…

We want our practice to be operating at optimal strength. We want our Team to possess a deep and intuitive understanding of the strategy, shared objectives, and vision of our practice. Thus enabling each individual to know what to do and where to focus. Managers spend their time doing and leading rather than sitting in meetings. The Team are excited about coming to work because their leaders encourage experimentation, initiative, innovation and completion.

In short, rather than commanding and controlling, a leader favours fluid-decision making. Rather than setting detailed strategies and goals, they impart a dynamic directional vision for their employees to follow. Rather than leading from the top through the hierarchy, they institutionalise leadership throughout their practice, thus thriving amidst uncertainty.

 

Talk to us about how we can help. Get in touch with us today.