Before we start down this road, it is important to remember that everyone is different. No dental practice is the same just as no dental professional or patient is the same. Because of the wide-range of different personalities, it is very difficult to pin down the exact skills required to be the kind of successful leader your practice needs. I would need to interview every last one of you and create a separate blog post for every office to even come close to identifying your exact needs.
However, according to Zenger and Folkman’s survey, Leadership Behaviors that Drive Employee Commitment, the top five are– to inspire and motivate, to drive for results, to achieve strategic perspective, to promote collaboration, and to walk the talk. What do these mean to you and your practice? They mean a lot more than you might think, and we are going to take a closer look at each one to see how they might apply to you and your team of dental professionals.
>>1 To inspire and motivate
Every leader has a goal or many goals they wish to achieve. Zenger and Folkman insist that this specific behavior will prove to have a great impact on employee satisfaction and commitment. And it makes sense. You can’t have your team achieve the goals you want to achieve without first inspiring and motivating them to do so. The thing to remember here is that everyone on your team is different and, as a successful leader, it is imperative to get to know your staff on a personal level by establishing a close relationship with them. You can then build confidence and trust in your team, therefore empowering them to take on more responsibilities and be a crucial part of the decision-making process. Consequently, your team will feel a sense of purpose, ownership and control, and will be happier because of it.
>>2 To drive for results
Zenger and Folkman look at the drive for results as a critical behavior to success; however, to achieve those results requires leaders to find a healthy balance between drive and inspiration. Too much drive and very little inspiration ultimately reduces motivation in your team. And the same goes for too much inspiration and not enough drive. The term “results” is vague and it is up to you to clarify what this term actually means to your dental practice. In order to inspire your team to meet certain expectations, it is important to first fine tune those expectations. The only way to do this is to really know your team, including what they do know and what they don’t.
>>3 To achieve strategic perspective
This behavior was rated number three in Zenger and Folkman’s survey, and for good reason as a successful leader should establish direction and purpose when it comes to achieving goals. Doing so will then result in more satisfied and committed individuals. As a successful leader, you should practice effective problem-solving and forward-thinking. You should plan what steps to take next and constantly reinforce where the dental practice is headed, making sure that it is always moving forward.
>>4 To Promote collaboration
A successful leader is usually a charismatic individual and helps your team to achieve fulfilment while also achieving goals. Again, it is important to reiterate that everyone in your dental practice is different and not everyone is going to agree with all your ideas. When promoting collaboration, you have to take into account the human aspect of your team and communicate as effectively as possible with them. This is one of the biggest challenges for a leader since everyone comes to the dental practice with their own knowledge and experience. To lead a team with different and even difficult personalities is an ongoing effort, and even though it might be counterintuitive, creating a good relationship with those difficult personalities is necessary to a successful collaboration. Once you have everyone in place, take a step back. It is never a good idea to micromanage your team but rather just make sure they are on the right path. Remember that the people you lead are what define you as a leader.
>>5 To Walk the talk
I expected this one to be rated higher on the survey. Displaying integrity and honesty seems like it should really be the backbone of a successful leader. As a leader to your team, you need to be a role model. You can’t say one thing and then do the exact opposite as this behavior creates cynicism and distrust among the individuals on your staff. Trust runs both ways. You can’t expect trust from your staff while simultaneously giving your staff every reason not to trust you. Be truthful and don’t assign blame where blame does not belong. When something needs to get done, provide the right resources. A successful leader creates an environment conducive to doing good work and your staff can’t do good work without having the right tools and the proper motivation of a leader they can trust.
Bonus: To Communicate powerfully and Effectively
Communication comes up a lot when you ask about what makes a successful leader. In Inc.com’s blog post “Top 10 Skills Every Great Leader Needs to Succeed”, Communicating powerfully and prolifically is number 5 further adding that “great leaders communicate with their people often, and in a variety of ways.” When I asked around the office about what makes a successful leader, many were quick to point out that effective listening and communication skills are incredibly vital, which is why I added this in as a bonus. You can’t establish relationships, practice empathy, convince your team to collaborate or achieve any kind of success as a leader without these skills. According to Larry M Guzzardo, “Dentistry is a service business, and communication is paramount to success.” And Sir John Harvey said, “you only get a company going where you want it to by leadership, by example, and by honest and endless communication.”
Now that you have read these essential behaviors that help make up a successful leader, it is time for you to start a discussion on what you think is missing from this list. Please leave your comments and ideas below, and if you’re interested in learning more, please feel free to check out the sources provided.
Sources
- Fulton-Calkins, Patsy, and Diane Blaney. The Administrative Professional: Procedures and Skills (second edition). Toronto. Nelson Education, 2013.
- Guzzardo, Larry M. “Listening Skills on the Telephone: What You Don’t Say Means More.” Oral Hygiene. Feb 2016: 30-33.
- Wheeler, Janice. “Good Boss, Bad Boss.” Denturism Canada Spring 2016: 15.
- http://www.forbes.com/sites/joefolkman/2016/02/03/5-attitudes-that-define-great-leaders/#1dd06bd783d7
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