The Michaelisms of Leadership

Allow me to make a statement that will upset a few doctors.  This statement, if it does rub you the wrong way, is hitting pretty close to home.  Those that realize its truth are already on a journey to raise the bar in their practice.  Those that agree with this statement are already doing well or they are in total denial.

Average dentists always have the time to replace poor employees, redo failed work, throw money at new equipment, and hire coaches that don’t help them change their results.  They never do it right the first time because they say they don’t have the time. 

Today, I want to give you pages of statements that stand alone in their meaning, and all describe a leader.  I am not going to drag each one out by writing a paragraph explaining them.  I could write pages for each one.  This article or list will challenge you to change and become accountable for where you are and where you are going.  Each statement holds the potential of rewriting your future in life and business.  I hope you find some understanding of leadership from each item.

Food for thought.  If you are not the lead dog, the view never changes.  For the doctors that are coasting or have plateaued, think of this: Died at 30, buried at 80.  You got it.  If you are just wanting an OK, average practice, you are reading the wrong thing.  That’s not bad, but why waste your time reading something that is going to push you up towards a better tomorrow?  Yes, it’s tough.  Absolutely, it is not for everyone, but surely you don’t want to look back at your career and regret a mediocre practice and life.  Anything worthwhile, is up hill.

Here are a few descriptives of Leaders:

Know where they want to go and tell everyone they know.  The journey is tough and there is nothing like telling others where you are going, so that you run to not fall short in your life quest.

Become great communicators and understand that communication is a two-way street. The key word is become. 95% of leaders are not born good communicators.  It is up to you to seek out mentors that emulate great communication.

Have integrity.  Their yes is yes, and their no is no, and are acknowledged.

Know they are not perfect and that is why they surround themselves with people who compensate for their short comings.  We should not look for team members just like us, we are looking for those who compliment us.  A synergistic relationship where both parties understand that neither of you are better than the two of you.

Embrace the journey, because we know that business and life is not about the destination.

Jealously guard “core” while embracing change.

Are not scared of failure.  We don’t like it, but we realize that failure is part of pushing yourself to new levels.

Have no defined limits in what we can dream or do

Realize that being good is probably the biggest obstacle to becoming great.

Know that money is not the goal, it is just a way of measuring the amount of service we render our clients.

Keep our focus on results and entertain new ideas and systems to get us there.  Remember it is a journey, not a destination.  With that said, you never actually arrive.  There is always more to learn and implement.

Keep their focus on results and entertain new ideas and systems to get there.

Know that procrastination is just one more system for avoiding consequence and success.

Always move toward their vision.  Non-leaders just arrive at someone else’s destination.

Always persist until they break through to another level of commitment and success.

Always embrace change because they know that change is always a constant.  They adapt or die.

Admit that they either lead or they end up following someone else.  Bottom line is you get what you deserve, not what you want.

Understand that in life and practice, there is a current, like a river.  Leaders are strong swimmers and can move against the current.  Average doctors just float down the river by procrastination or doing nothing, and their destination will always be a surprise.

Have people that follow them.  If you think you are a leader and look over you shoulder and find there is no one there, you are just taking a walk.

Model what they want to see in their followers.

Create the circumstances where people commit to different actions.

Always start with themselves.  Take a mirror and take a long hard look at your own actions and results before you embark on changing what others do.

Know that if they show up every day, show up ready to work hard, and show up ready to work on time, they are in the top 1% of all dentists.

Consider the council of others.  Think of staff ownership in The Super General Dental Practice (free at www.supergeneralpractice.com ).  Find the right mentor, find the right coach, pay the price and reap the benefits of not having to make the same mistakes as others.  You will become the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with.  Choose wisely.

Know that if they are listening to someone, or reading something, and they tell them the truth, they are trying to help them.  If they tell you what you want to hear, they are trying to sell you something.  The untruth can look very attractive when they seem to direct you away from the challenges of your life and practice.  Everything good is difficult to obtain.

Delegate.  By not delegating, we rob our team of becoming the best they can be.  Delegation allows you to make the main thing the main thing.  Once delegated and done well, you can concentrate on the remaining most important things that only you can do.  A lack of delegation is a lack of leadership.

Make decisions on about 70% of the information they need.  They know that procrastination and indecision is the habit of the weak and the “sheeple”.  The average dentist only makes decisions when they have only survival to gain.

Take knowledge and act.  There is no learning without application.

Have an impact on other’s lives.

Are as passionate about their work as they are about their hobbies.

Understand that what they do at work will follow them home and affect what and how well they do there also.

Act quickly and pay the price to find the right information and mentor.

Define what is core, preserves core with diligence, stimulates progress with constant change, and never forgets what is really important: People.

Know it is all about a culture based on “purpose”.  The default setting for no purpose is chasing money.

Assume that leadership can be taught and passed onto others.  A Wall Street Journal survey showed that CEOs were born with only 40% of their leadership abilities.  The remaining 60% they developed through experiences.

Understand the “Mirror Principle”: The first person we must examine is ourselves. Leadership doesn’t begin with those out there.  It begins with the person inside you.

Understand that human nature seems to endow people with the ability to size up everybody in the world by comparing with themselves!  Not sure where I heard this, but the first person I must get along with is myself. (Self-image), the first person to cause me problems is myself (Self-honesty), and the first person I must change is myself (Self-improvement).

Know that your “core” principles and a clear vision are the two key things and without them no strategy will work, and it will be impossible to prioritize correctly.  Here is the proper sequence: 

1. Vision: You must see it clearly.
2. Strategy: What will it take to get there?
3. Priority: How to make it happen.

 
Those who are brave will ask these feedback question to their team:

1. What should I stop doing?
2. What should I keep doing?
3. What should I start doing?

Acknowledge help from 3 different groups of people:

1. Some people helped me that never knew me (books, seminars, and legacies).
2. Some people knew me but never knew they helped me. They modeled for me success principles that I could apply to my life.
3. Some people know me and know they helped me. These friends have been intentional in their assistance. Most of the good things that happen to me ae a direct result of their commitment to add value to me.

 
Know that success is compounded when others join our cause.  Followers make leaders possible.  Great followers make great leaders.
 
To summarize, allow me to create a “TOP 16” list of things great leaders will finally embrace.  Please, please reread this list.  It is the description of every successful person you have ever heard about.

1. The Leaders greatest victory: Over self. The lens principle states that who we are determines how we treat or see others. Leaders think of others first, and followers think of themselves first.
2. The Leaders greatest asset: Confidence.
3. The Leaders greatest blessing: Health.
4. The Leaders greatest weight: Responsibility. (The leader can give up everything except final responsibility.)
5. The Leaders greatest discipline: Taking time to think.
6. The Leaders greatest handicap: Pride.
7. The Leaders greatest opportunity: Today.
8. The Leaders greatest lose: Hope.
9. The Leaders greatest liability: Insecurity.
10. The Leaders greatest motivation: Challenge.
11. The Leaders greatest moment: Casting a vision.
12. The Leaders greatest joy: Adding value to others.
13. The Leaders greatest mistake: Putting self before others.
14. The Leaders greatest hope: Wisdom. (Knowing what to do next. Skill is knowing how to do it.  Virtue is doing it.)
15. The Leaders greatest return: Developing people.
16. The Leaders greatest recognition: Respect. (Character + Confidence + Consistency equals Respect.)

 
There you have it!  A collection of over 50 years of sage advice from learned experiences and the council of others.  I apologize for not being able to give credit to some of these quotes.  They were a personal collection that I have used to guide my steps and correct my trajectory over 50 years in Dentistry.  I hope they find a space in your journey.  Like a compass, there are experiences and advice that show us true North.
 
Michael Abernathy DDS
972.523.4660 cell
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