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June 30, 2010
Is it Time for a Reality Check?
Many dentists express their desire to maintain control over various aspects of their practice. "I'm the only one who cares about this practice." "My teammates don't seem to have as much invested in the success of this practice as I do." "This is just who I am."
Your ability or inability to empower your team is a determining factor for growth, fulfillment, and professional success.
It is important for dentists to understand the true intentions behind their control statements. The need for control can be based on many factors, including:
Fear of Appearing Weak in knowledge or skills - it's the age-old notion that you might be afraid you will be exposed as lacking knowledge or even miss-managing.
Inability to Delegate - You may feel lost when it comes to knowing how to delegate, or you are feeling so overwhelmed yourself that even the thought of empowering others seems impossible to handle.
Desire to be in the spotlight - Perhaps you have a strong internal drive for recognition, possibly to the point that you refuse to share credit for successful outcomes.
As a leader, it is key to have accurate expectations based on clear intentions, and this often requires an honest "conversation" with yourself and then being accountable to the truth behind the statements. Susan Scott addresses this beautifully in her book, Fierce Conversations: Achieving Success at Work and in Life, One Conversation at a Time, when she says: "You must deliberately, purposely come out from behind yourself into the conversation and make it real-at least your part of it."
Being honest with yourself gives you a clear picture of your professional reality and thus enables you to set realistic goals and be responsive to change. Have that honest conversation and truly realize your potential! Don't know where to begin? Try starting here!
Your Call to Action
- When is the last time you had a "real" conversation with yourself?
- What are you holding onto too tightly?
- What fears are supporting your need for control? What steps could you take to overcome these fears?
Continued Success to you and your Team!
Sincerely,
Art Deden
Vista Practice Management
www.vista-practice.com
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