Let me tell you about a time when I faced one of the toughest leadership challenges in my career. I had taken on a role at a dental group in Orange County, California, where, on the surface, everything seemed to be running smoothly. This particular office had been the highest-performing practice in the group, producing around $400,000 per month. To the owner, this team was untouchable—leaders who had been with him for over seven years. He thought they were the best, and I was stepping into a place where changes seemed unwelcome.
But when I took a closer look—really dug into the office metrics—I saw a completely different story. Yes, the office was busy, but it was due to the sheer volume of people: four general dentists, three specialists, three hygienists, and a ton of staff. They had the manpower to keep a packed schedule, but when I audited their numbers, I saw they were only closing 11% of all treatment plans. Can you imagine? And to make things worse, their cancellation rate was at 32%, and there was absolutely no follow-up on continuing care.
The real issue was that they were running on autopilot—moving fast without any strategy. This wasn’t a high-performing office; it was an office propped up by volume, not efficiency. The numbers were glaringly clear, but the owner couldn’t see past the production figure. It wasn’t an easy situation to walk into, and it wasn’t about tearing down their existing leadership; it was about stepping in as the leader I wanted them to become.
I knew the only way to make real change was to be present, get in there, and model the behavior I expected. I started working side by side with the team, focusing on treatment plans, leading productive morning meetings, and working with each member to meet them where they were. Instead of making it feel like a hostile takeover, we built trust, and eventually, I leveled up the team to where they needed to be. It wasn’t overnight, but we turned that office around by fostering leadership resilience.
Now, I’m sharing with you the five strategies that helped me lead that team through change and challenges, and I believe they can help you, too.
1. Are You Afraid of Change? It’s Time to Shift Your Perspective
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: change.Whether it’s implementing new systems, adjusting workflows, or dealing with unexpected staffing issues, change can feel like a heavy burden. But here’s the thing—resisting change doesn’t just keep you stuck, it can cripple your ability to lead effectively.
Do you feel like your office is always scrambling to adjust to something new? Here’s a secret: the most resilient leaders don’t fear change—they leverage it. They see it as an opportunity for growth and innovation.
When you embrace change, you’re not just improving processes. You’re showing your team that you’re willing to adapt, pivot, and lead with courage. That kind of leadership is contagious.
Action Step: Start small. The next time your office faces a change, whether it’s a shift in scheduling or a new procedure, reframe your mindset. Ask yourself, “What can we learn from this? How can this make us better?”
2. Are You Exhausted by Miscommunication? Here’s How to Fix It
How often do misunderstandings and poor communication cause friction in your dental office? You think you’ve been clear, but somehow, things fall through the cracks. And that’s when frustration hits, and the blame game starts.
Sound familiar?
Miscommunication doesn’t just create tension—it breaks trust. And when your team feels like they can’t communicate openly, it’s nearly impossible to build resilience.
In that Orange County office, one of the first things I had to tackle was the way communication had completely broken down. The leadership team wasn’t talking to the front desk, and the front desk wasn’t talking to the hygienists. There was this massive disconnect, which led to a high cancellation rate and patient frustration. It wasn’t that the team didn’t care—they just weren’t aligned. It was clear we needed to open up the lines of communication and create an environment where everyone felt comfortable speaking up and sharing feedback.
The foundation of any successful, resilient dental office is strong, transparent communication. But let’s be real—getting everyone on the same page isn’t always easy. It takes effort, vulnerability, and leadership that’s committed to being clear and open.
Action Step: Start by creating a culture where communication is valued. Hold regular team huddles, encourage open feedback, and don’t be afraid to ask the hard questions: “Where are we missing the mark? What can we do better?”
3. Is Negativity Draining Your Energy? Here’s How to Turn It Around
Negativity in the workplace doesn’t just show up out of nowhere—it builds over time. And when it takes hold, it can be like a dark cloud hanging over your entire office. I’ve seen it happen firsthand, and I know how toxic it can be. One bad day can quickly spiral into a week of feeling defeated, unmotivated, and burned out. And when negativity spreads, it can tank morale faster than anything else.
In the Orange County office, I noticed that team members were simply going through the motions. The energy was low, and people weren’t excited about the work they were doing. It’s easy to let a negative mindset take over when things aren’t going well, but resilient leaders know how to turn that around. They make the conscious choice to shift their mindset from problems to solutions. And as soon as I started showing up with that mindset, things began to change.
Action Step: The next time you catch yourself or your team sinking into a negative mindset, hit pause. Take a breath and ask, “How can we approach this differently?” Lead the charge in flipping the script.
4. Do You Feel Like There’s Never Enough Time? Here’s the Real Problem
One of the biggest hurdles I faced in turning that Orange County office around was time—or the lack of it. The team was constantly overwhelmed with a busy schedule, and they felt like they were drowning in a sea of tasks. With four general dentists, three specialists, and three hygienists all working together, the pace was chaotic, to say the least. It’s easy to get swept up in the madness of back-to-back appointments, paperwork, and patient care. But here’s the hard truth: it’s not that we didn’t have enough time—it’s that we weren’t managing it well.
Resilient leaders know how to prioritize. They know when to delegate, when to say no, and when to focus their energy on the tasks that really matter. Time management is less about fitting everything in and more about figuring out what needs to be let go.
At this office, we started by streamlining processes and tackling time management head-on. By delegating tasks and focusing on what was truly important, we were able to increase efficiency without burning out the team. It wasn’t about doing more—it was about doing the right things.
Action Step: Start by listing out your most important tasks. What are the non-negotiables? What can you delegate? Then, schedule your day with intentionality. Block out time for what matters and let go of the rest.
5. Do You Put Yourself Last? Why Self-Care is Non-Negotiable for Leaders
Leadership resilience isn’t just about what you can do for your team—it’s about how well you take care of yourself. And if you’re anything like I was in those early days, you’re probably putting yourself last on the list. You feel like you can’t take a break because there’s just too much to do, but here’s the truth: you can’t pour from an empty cup.
When I was working to turn around the Orange County office, I found myself getting completely burned out. I was trying to be everywhere at once—leading meetings, working on treatment plans, and trying to keep the team motivated. But what I didn’t realize was that my exhaustion was starting to impact my ability to lead. The moment I began taking care of myself—whether it was stepping away for a quick walk, spending time with family, or even taking 10 minutes for myself in the morning—everything changed. I was able to show up as a stronger, more present leader for my team.
Self-care isn’t selfish. It’s the foundation of resilient leadership. When you prioritize your well-being, you have the energy and clarity to lead your team through even the toughest days.
Action Step: Schedule time for self-care the way you’d schedule a meeting or an appointment. Whether it’s 10 minutes of mindfulness in the morning, a walk during lunch, or a night off to recharge, make it happen.
Your Journey to Resilient Leadership Starts Now
Here’s the truth—resilient leadership isn’t about pretending you have it all together. It’s about showing up every day, even when things feel overwhelming. It’s about embracing the challenges and turning them into opportunities for growth. If I’ve learned anything from my experience with the Orange County office, it’s that the most powerful leadership transformations happen when you face the challenges head-on, with the mindset that every hurdle is an opportunity to grow stronger.
You don’t have to do this alone. With the right strategies in place, you can lead your team through any storm and come out the other side even stronger.
This is your moment. Your journey starts now.
Disclaimer:
To learn more about Sarah Beth Herman, the author of all free training content you can read her bio here. These materials are intended to provide helpful information to dentists and dental team members. They are in no way a substitute for actual professional advice based on your unique facts and circumstances. This content is not intended or offered, nor should it be taken, as legal or other professional advice. You should always consult with your own professional advisors (e.g. attorney, accountant, or insurance carrier). To the extent, Dentistry Support ®has included links to any third-party website (s), Dentistry Support ® intends no endorsement of their content and implies no affiliation with the organizations that provide their content. Further, Dentistry Support ® makes no representations or warranties about the information provided on those sites. You can view our privacy policy and terms and conditions by clicking those pages in the footer of our website.
I'm sure your insights will be helpful to many dental professionals. It's very inspiring. This is a great read!
thanks for sharing :) keep posting.