Being a Great Leader — Part One Dear CareCredit Practice, Leaders come in many forms and can be found in all roles on the dental team. In this special two-part e-mail series, Laura Boone, an Executive Coach with Fortune Management, gives reminders of why leadership is so important to the success of a dental practice, the behaviors a great leader exhibits and tips on how to be a great leader. Part Two will be delivered next week and considers how good communication plays a part in being a great leader. One of the most important elements in creating an outstanding dental practice is leadership. Without it, the practice lacks a strong culture, motivation and dedication, and that will ultimately affect the bottom line of the business. Bringing out the greatness in people can be achieved if a leader gets creative. Leadership comes in different forms, styles and actions. As an Executive Coach for Fortune Management, I have coached many top dentists who struggle to lead their teams. Here are some leadership tips for being who you need to be in order to attract and keep the right team: 1. Become a teacher — Be a role model. Be the example. Practice what you preach and be committed to the goals. 2. Delegate — Surround yourself with a team whose abilities you can respect and trust. When people sense great things are expected from them, they tend to be challenged by that expectation and work hard to live up to it. 3. Encourage independent thinking — Stop enabling and allow the team to think for themselves. Ask them to become solution-focused, rather than problem-focused. 4. Build a team — The most effective teams comprise members with diverse skills and personalities. 5. Listen — Listen with the intent to understand, rather than reply. 6. Set an example — People rarely learn from what we tell them to do; more often they learn from example. 7. Accept responsibility — Take blame away and be accountable for the results at all costs. 8. Share the spotlight — Give credit where credit is deserved. Feeding the emotional bank account can be rewarding. 9. Plan, plan, plan — Be prepared, always. Good planning involves a sense of strategic direction. 10. Execute — Once an action plan is adopted, make sure the team has the resources in place to execute the plan.

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