North Texas Dentistry Volume 7 Issue 4 NTD 2017 ISSUE 4 CONV DE | Page 27

The Know It All (KIA). We all know this guy. This practitioner tends to bully his/her staff and vendors because they are always the smartest person in the room. The funny thing is that they them- selves create most of their own problems, by not accepting other professionals’ ideas. This doctor typically hires staff to fill various roles. But like the DIY-er, they make all decisions within the prac- tice because they can’t let go. They can’t delegate any decision-making to their staff. Some feel their staff is incompe- tent, or they just don’t trust their judge- ment. This is typically because they hire incompetent employees because they are cheaper. Eventually the staff gives up, morale drops, and the practice suffers. The Teacher who could be also labeled as The Leader. This individual has grown past both the DIY and KIA phases in life. This person tends to have a happy, ful- filling life and career. They train their employees on procedures and decision making, and hire people they have con- fidence in. This allows them to mentor staff, who in turn handle most small decisions concerning daily tasks. This philosophy allows the doctor to special- ize in what he/she wants to do. It also gives the doctor freedom to attend func- tions and mingle with others in the com- munity. This leads to more exposure and a full patient base. Most successful prac- titioners fall into this category. In fact, many try and fail. Many are mis- erable and stressed out, and some find they could have done just as well with one practice as they do with multiple. This is because their personality limits their ability to manage so many things at once. We all have our limits, and recog- nizing them is what will keep us success- ful. It takes a special kind of personality to accomplish this successfully, which is why so many successful corporate dental companies are run by business people. In conclusion, I have always thought of myself as an entrepreneur. I’ve opened three successful businesses during my career, but my first was an utter failure. I too had to grow through each stage one by one. For some of us, growth is natural, others must work hard. Sadly, a few get left behind to grind out their living. If you are struggling, look at your practice and identify the problem. If you can’t identify it, seek help. But, be ready for some hard truth. Chances are the prob- lem can be found in the mirror. Find em- ployees and vendors that you can trust. They should be able to free you up, so you can do what you should be doing. Your best assets are you and your dental skills. Don’t waste them fixing your own equipment, ordering supplies and/or scheduling your own patients. If you can delegate, then focus on den- tistry – you may find your Zen and be in command of your office. Duane Gallup is a founder and manag- ing partner of Vital Technology Group, LLC. He has been a dental I.T. profes- sional since 1997 when he started his first I.T. company, Arlington Comput- ers, later sold in 2006. From there he consulted for Microsoft and worked with Dallas’ State Courts. His current I.T. company has limited their focus to dental technol- ogy. Contact Duane Gallup at: [email protected]. The Entrepreneur. This is a fast-growing part of dentistry today and is the hardest to master. We all see it happen- ing around us. Many call it Corporate Dentistry. These guys have mastered the Teacher stage and gone one step further, allowing them to take a more global view of the business. They have in fact become a business professional. Den- tistry is simply their industry of choice. They are typically hiring dentists who don’t yet have the skills to manage their own practice. It’s important to recognize that not all corporate dental owners are truly quali- fied to open or manage multiple offices. www.northtexasdentistry.com | NORTH TEXAS DENTISTRY 27