Episode 41
41: The One Secret to Long Lasting Success in Dentistry - Leigh Ann Faight RDH, BS
This is an awesome show, My right hand woman Leigh Ann Faight is here today to talk about the one secret to long lasting success in dentistry. Lee Ann is one of my practice coaches and an integral part of my team. Which brings us to the point that no practice can be successful without the right team in place.
Building a team means communicating your expectations, but first you have to take the time to understand your goals and values and really uncover the why of what you are doing. Once you discover clarity, you have to share it with your team. Leigh Ann talks about having those conversations, how conflict can be valuable, working together authentically, and she shares some great success stories.
You can find Leigh Ann Faight here:
Show Notes
[02:53] Leigh Ann is a practice coach for ACT Dental. She is one of seven coaches on the team.
[04:26] At ACT we affectionately call Leigh Ann LA.
[04:30] The one secret to real lasting success in dentistry. The organizational health and culture of the business.
[05:20] There is the strategic side or the IQ side. The efficiency and effectiveness of the team from the EQ side.
[07:10] People need to understand the path and depth of the organization.
[07:46] Nothing trumps organizational health. Putting the team members first in an authentic way.
[08:23] Identifying strategies to detect what is creating confusion. Leadership needs to create direction and define goals.
[09:26] Find what is most important to the organization so that the team can understand the focus.
[10:16] Without organizational health, good strategies are sustainable.
[11:56] Healthy practices have the right people and are organized.
[12:29] Moving into organizational health is about minimizing confusion and minimizing politics. This makes things on the strategy side harmonious.
[14:55] Things take off when teams start authentically working together.
[15:57] The importance of having real authentic conversations.
[16:28] You don't want to invite conflict into your organization or do you? Actually, if you don't look for healthy conflict you will never get to the next level.
[16:56] People are willing to be all in when their voices are heard.
[18:37] The key to having the right assistant is you being the right dentist.
[19:27] The order of structure and strategy. Which one follows the other?
[20:08] Managing what works. Centering the change process around strategy.
[20:45] The importance of having a platform for communication. Having the right chemistry also matters.
[22:23] Culture is important in every organization across the board. You can't keep good people if they aren't happy.
[23:50] As a doctor, recognize that you have contributed to the way that things currently are.
[28:19] The importance of understanding the why.
[29:01] Take the time to do a core values exercise. This is who I am and what I am about.
[30:35] Some of the other pitfalls. Giving teams the autonomy to drive a change practice. Balance between strategies and systems.
[33:59] Things that can get in the way from dentists or team members not understanding the process.
[36:33] You can't expect your team to do something unless you explain to them what you want them to do. It's up to the leader to establish the goals and objectives and expectations.
[37:16] Coaches can hold you accountable and help you through the storm and help you to become the dentist that you've always wanted to be.
[37:43] How it is better to be clear than it is to be nice.
[39:54] Nothing trumps health.
[40:56] How it is important to take the time and sit down and find out what made things work.
[45:21] Bringing your team together and getting really clear is one of the most important things you can do for your practice. Work on clarity. You have to know what you want before you present it to your team. Be willing to slow down and spend time around the table to work through the strategies.
Links and Resources:
Mindset: The New Psychology of Success
The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable
