Do's and don'ts for being a better leader

Leadership has been made far too complex when it is rather simple to understand. In fact, when you really examine the skills of leadership, they are quite easy to comprehend. It's the implementation that creates challenges because that's when human meets human -- and human interaction can be complicated. To improve your leadership skills, rely on simple concepts such as positivity and transparency.

Believe in a better future. The first skill that every leader should master is being a believer in a bright future for the practice. This is important because when you share your belief about a better future, it creates a vision that your team members can latch onto and gives them a higher sense of purpose for coming to work. When people have a sense of purpose, they tend to focus less on themselves and more on what must be accomplished.

Don't forget to let the team know when the practice is doing well. Dentists don't hesitate to let team members know when they make a mistake. However, they often forget to acknowledge them when things are going well. This is different than complimenting an individual staff member. This is making sure the team is updated about practice performance. You don't have to share your doctor salary, but you should definitely share practice performance, production, and revenue.

Dr. Roger P. Levin is the CEO of Levin Group, a leading dental management consulting firm, and one of the most sought-after speakers in dentistry. Levin has authored 65 books and more than 4,000 articles on dental practice management and marketing. You can sign up for the Levin Group Tip of the Day.

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