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Leadership As a Tool for Growth
How seriously do you take the concept of leadership in your dental practice? In my organization, we follow the EOS structure for our company meetings, team building and overarching goals and processes. Gino Wickman has created a comprehensive system for every aspect of running a successful organization. It truly works for us, and it has been a successful and exciting experience so far.
We Practice What We Preach
We just had our 2nd Quarter, day-long meeting last week when we got to assess our first quarter and look ahead, plan and set realistic goals for our 3rd quarter. We also got to dig into some core issues within the company that were holding us back from accomplishing key benchmarks. These issues have been resolved and won’t be the issues that hold us back moving forward. There will be new issues to deal with in the next quarter and we will work those out using our EOS tools, as well, I have no doubt.
During these meetings with our entire team, there are some wonderful, awful, dumb, ground-breaking and irrelevant ideas that get thrown around. There’s a lot of non-judgmental brainstorming that goes on in learning to move the needle in a new company.
What Does Lending Leadership Mean for your Dental Practice?
One of the ideas that came to me in the lead up to our Q2 meeting, is an idea I labeled, ‘Lending Leadership.’ I fell in love with this idea and threw it out to my team. They loved it too, because, as I explained to them, this is, essentially, our guiding principle with OPS. We are an organization dedicated to holding space for companies and practices while they integrate the processes, systems and structural changes they need to scale their organizations.
These transitional times are confusing, challenging, scary and overwhelming for companies. What myself and my partner, Josh Gwinn, are dedicated to is lending our leadership during these times so that teams feel supported, directed and educated during these crucial transitions.
The Concept of Lending Leadership
Another area we lend our leadership is through the process of evaluating your organization including what your practice looks like without more work from you, the practice owner. This is a crucial step in the scaling process. As the lead dentist, CEO, or leader of your organization you need to begin the process of extracting yourself from your daily activities within the practice while transitioning to working on the business. This entails even changing your calendar to reflect your new role within the company.
As leaders who’ve gone through this very transition, both Josh and I, lend our leadership to making this transition as smooth as possible. And much of this transition involves changing your mindset. It might seem trivial but learning to move from the dentist’s chair into the role of leader/investor is an important and highly effective step in scaling your practice.
It is your vision, direction and leadership that will shepherd your teams through the expansion process. And while your team is looking to you for direction, guidance and clarity you have the advantage of looking to us for expertise, mentorship and comprehensive team structure. We fill in the gaps until your teams are ready and able to guide the process.
The Importance of Leadership in your Dental Practice
Lending our leadership ensures that you gain the highest valuation for your organization. This is a mutually beneficial process and outcome, and the guiding principle is your vision. In fact, the very first step we take at Optimize when working with new partners is what we call, Vision Day. We sit down with you and your teams to, above all, listen to what your vision for your organization is. If you’re not sure what your vision is we help you figure that out in a team setting so everyone is involved. Transparency, communication, honesty and compassion are the values we use to guide us through the Vision Day process.
What Leadership Means to Us
We walk the talk. Our goal at Optimize is for our partners to gain clarity of their vision, be ensured of the highest valuation for their organizations, and be ready with strong teams, communications and processes in place for the scaling operation. This ensures mutual success and smiles all around. And it all starts with your vision, not ours. We are there to assist, clarify and lend leadership to provide a smooth experience for everyone. That’s how we roll.
Another Entrepreneurial Strategy That Works
Confident leaders don’t lead by reaction, they lead with intention. One of the most effective strategies any dental entrepreneur can adopt is creating clarity around what they stand for, where they’re going, and how they’ll get there. Without that clarity, even strong leaders can feel stuck, scattered, or unsure of their next move.
That’s why we created the Extraction GPS. This tool helps you clarify your values, assess your current reality, and define a clear direction forward so your leadership is grounded, consistent, and purposeful. When you know your destination, lending leadership becomes easier because your guidance is anchored in something real and intentional.
Lending Leadership at Optimize Practice Alliance
At Optimize Practice Alliance, we believe confident leadership starts with alignment. Our mission is to give dental entrepreneurs the tools they need to lead decisively, support their teams effectively, and build practices that reflect their values and long-term vision.
The Extraction GPS is one of the core tools we use to help leaders move from uncertainty to confidence. By defining what matters most and mapping a clear path forward, you create the foundation for stronger culture, better decision-making, and sustainable growth.
Ready to lead with clarity and confidence?