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In my quest to understand how to be a better leader within my organization and move from dentist to investor in my dental practice, I discovered a piece of writing that became an invaluable tool of my leadership development. In his 1977 essay, The Servant As Leader, Robert K. Greenleaf coined the term servant-leadership. Servant-leadership as a philosophy that centers the organization and its leaders as servants to a greater community.
In his essay, Greenleaf describes the necessary qualities and characteristics of servant-leadership and how these qualities contribute to a healthier organization, community and society at large. He also details the skills necessary for effective leadership.
Using Servant-as-Leader Skills in Your Dental Practice
The skills such as awareness, empathy, the ability to listen, anticipation of obstacles are the foundational activities that resonated with me as being the type of leader embodying the values I also wanted to instill throughout my organization.
Servant-Leadership Skills Vs. Traditional Leadership Qualities in a Dental Practice Setting
- Servant-Leadership
- Listens as a Practice
- Practices Empathy
- Leads with his/her values
- Is Aware of Strengths & Weaknesses
- Practices Inclusivity in Decision-Making
- Measures Success through a holistic lens
- Traditional Leadership
- Speaks as a Practice
- Leads through Control
- Is not necessarily guided by personal values
- Uses Leadership as a rank of value
- Top-down Decision-Making
- Measures Success only through Output
My Own Story of Learning to Lead
In my book, Extraction: The Surprising New Formula to Systemize, Scale and Sell Your Business, I go into the skills, principles and qualities I use to guide my leadership style. In fact, I dedicate an entire chapter to this called Leadership and Execution. But it was this pamphlet that really started it all for me, in how I look at leadership and the way I have molded my own path to leadership.
Applying Leadership Skills and Values in Your Dental Practice
This little pamphlet had a profound effect on me. Within its unassuming pages I found a path for instilling my personal values into my leadership style and using them to help me guide my practice in a way that felt most comfortable for me and that honored all voices within my organization. It’s a quick read and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
These are the same values, principles and skills that today guide Optimize Practice Alliance. We really are an organization that practices what it preaches and espouses as its values. If you would like to learn more about OPS, what we stand for and how we can help your organization, take a fast and free assessment and get in touch! We’d love to find out about you too!
Practicing Servant-Leadership in Real Time
One way to discover your values, brush up on your leadership skills and work out your challenges around leadership issues is to speak with other dentists who’ve been in your shoes. Our CEO, Josh Gwinn, runs a monthly mastermind exclusively for dentists.
Each month dentists come together to discuss their biggest issues and find solutions, celebrate each others’ wins and provide feedback and resources to overcome challenges and roadblocks in their practices. It’s an incredible opportunity for dentists to brainstorm together and create a community that works for them. It’s also in alignment with our motto,
We believe the future of dentistry belongs with dentists
Through the values that our founder and president, Dr. Jack Bayramyan, founded OPS on, we are dedicated to providing tools, solutions and long-term strategies to dentists no matter what stage of growth they find themselves. This includes bettering themselves in their mindsets and as leaders of their organizations. Now, you may be asking yourself, what is a mastermind?
Practicing Servant Leadership in Real Time
Servant leadership starts with clarity: clarity about your values, your purpose, and the kind of leader you want to be for your team and your patients. It’s difficult to serve others well if you haven’t first taken the time to define what truly matters and where you’re leading your organization.
That’s why we created the Extraction GPS. This tool helps dental entrepreneurs slow down long enough to clarify their values, assess where their practice is today, and define a clear direction forward. When your vision is rooted in service and intention, leadership decisions become more thoughtful, more consistent, and more impactful.
At Optimize Practice Alliance, we believe the future of dentistry belongs with dentists and that future is built by leaders who serve with purpose, humility, and clarity.
One of the Greatest Strategies of Servant Leaders
Great servant leaders don’t rely on instinct alone, they operate from alignment. They understand that values-driven leadership requires a clear roadmap, so their actions consistently reflect what they stand for.
The Extraction GPS was designed to help you translate servant leadership principles into action. By clearly defining your values, long-term vision, and priorities, you create a framework that supports your team, strengthens your culture, and guides your practice through growth and change with integrity.
When your direction is clear, service becomes sustainable. Your team knows what you stand for. Your decisions reinforce trust. And your leadership creates lasting impact.
Ready to lead with clarity and service at the center?