Break Free From These 5 Leadership Myths

One of the biggest challenges to every dentist is the threat of burnout. It leaves dentists feeling alone and frustrated, and it inevitably bleeds into their life outside of the practice. One of the most common sources of this exhaustion is fundamentally misunderstanding what it takes to be an effective leader. There are countless leadership myths that pervade the business world, and when we subscribe to them, it truly hinders our ability to run a successful practice. One of Kirk’s favorite sayings is “As goes the leader, so goes the team,” so eliminate the following limiting beliefs and unlock your practice’s full potential! 

1. “I have to do it all myself”

You might think that you know how to do everything better than anyone, but the truth is, you don’t! This mindset will burn you out incredibly quickly, but it will also hold back your practice by denying your team the opportunity to grow. Great leaders empower others to take ownership and succeed, and to make this happen, focus on identifying your strengths and weaknesses, and then building a team that complements those areas. 

2. “Good leaders don’t show weakness”

Leaders often believe they must project an image of strength by hiding any weakness, but in truth, showing vulnerability builds trust and inspires authenticity within your team. In fact, the most effective leaders are the ones who are open and honest with their teams. This vulnerability builds trust, inspires authenticity, and shows your team that you’re one of them.

3. “Conflict is always bad”

The desire to avoid conflict is natural, because no one enjoys disagreements or arguments in the workplace. However, doing so will only turn those conflicts into crises. Instead, learn to embrace constructive conflict! By encouraging team members to respectfully challenge each other’s ideas, you’ll actually foster greater innovation and problem-solving, leading to increased growth. To learn more about the power of constructive conflict, and how to encourage it in your practice, check out this free resource!

4. “Leadership is about being in control”

This is your business, so it’s perfectly natural to want to keep your hand on the wheel, but the more control you try to exercise, the more your team will suffer. Over-controlling, micromanaging leaders stifle the creativity and independence that’s crucial to a great practice. True leadership requires direction, not oppression, so focus instead on setting a clear vision and empowering your team to achieve it.

5. “The leader should have all the answers”

You may feel as if you need to have the solution to every problem, but this creates an unrealistic pressure that will exhaust you. It’s ok to not know everything, and it’s actually incredibly healthy to be able to admit that to your team! In fact, when you have a great team, you can rely on their collective intelligence to solve any problem. By asking better questions, you’re able to fill in the gaps in your own knowledge with the strengths of your team and create a culture of collaboration.

These limiting beliefs aren’t just a limitation on you—they hinder the entire practice’s potential! Overcoming these myths is a crucial part of becoming a great leader, so reflect on your leadership style and see which ones you need to bust! We all have room to improve, so get started today by determining your Leadership Health Score! To take the next step and learn how ACT can help you build a Better Practice and a Better life, reach out to Gina!

Tune in next time and learn how you can improve your systems with better reporting!