Dos and don'ts for leadership: Learning from failure

Many dentists tend to be micromanagers and dread any mistakes that the team makes, no matter how small. This is the wrong approach.

Realize no one is perfect. In fact, I have never met a CEO who grew and developed in his or her role without making mistakes. Mistakes can be minor, moderate, or severe. The key for team members is to avoid severe mistakes, learn from the minor or moderate ones, and move forward.

Don't overreact when mistakes are made. Smart dentists look at staff mistakes as learning opportunities. They recognize that errors are part of operating a dental business. Nobody gets everything right the first time. Team members who learn from mistakes have the potential to be highly effective in their jobs.