Over the years of coaching dental teams, I’ve noticed something interesting: the best practices don’t all look the same. They operate in different markets, have different team structures, and even different clinical approaches. Some focus on emergencies-only, some are dentures and implants, but throughout all of the top-performing offices – they do share some key things in common. Last week Dr. Summer Kassmel, Ashlee Hirschfeld, and myself did a webinar about these high-performing practices. From our amazing discussion, I took away these points:
It all starts with clarity. These teams know exactly who they are, why they exist, and how they operate. They ask tough questions regularly: Is this still the right ladder to be climbing? Is this still getting me out of bed with purpose? They rethink their strategies monthly, quarterly, and especially at year’s end- but they’re always headed in a direction with clarity.
The leaders in these practices are self-aware and always learning. They don’t chase being “right”—they chase being effective. When something breaks down, they ask “what” happened, not “who” messed up. They take responsibility, they apologize when needed, and they lead with optimism and a plan. And just as importantly, they listen. A lot. Not for validation or blame—but for truth and improvement.
These leaders also understand the numbers. They don’t fear them, and they don’t let them define their worth. Numbers are fuel—they tell you when to refuel, when to push harder, and where to adjust. These leaders don’t waste time slicing 0.5% off overhead while ignoring bigger holes in the bucket- good leaders don’t step over dollars to pick up pennies! And they aren’t afraid to invest in growth, training, or services that bring long-term ROI.
Meetings matter. High-performing teams have consistent check-ins, audits, and structured meetings. Every meeting has a purpose, a clear agenda, and measurable outcomes. They treat meeting time as an investment, not a sacrifice of production. They only set up meetings when something needs to be done- either training or decisions, not passing information along (you can do that in a selfie video texted to your team).
They also invest in the right people. They pay attention to who is committed—not just in words, but in actions. They don’t let fear of being disliked stop them from having real conversations. They lead with kindness, clarity, and compassion—even when the message is firm.
And finally, they learn from peers (who’ve made the mistakes before). Successful practices are built on the successes (and failures) of other practices. Good leaders will do their research on other business models. They take the best, learn from other’s mistakes, and plan accordingly. This is why the Dental Success Network is soo important- good leaders use it as a tool to check their thinking, share their successes and failures, and go to the community to learn. Successful practices don’t usually come up with unique ideas, it’s taking someone else’s successes and building on that idea.
Our talk last week was a blast, and if you want to listen/watch the entire chat, DSN members can get access HERE. **(Reminder to active your new WorkVivo Account if you haven’t yet!)**
Be well and do well,
Addison Killeen, DDS
P.S. Ready to become one of the TOP performing practices? Join us and experience the power of aligned leadership and data-driven success.
