The Grit Behind the Growth: Leadership Mindset Training for Dental Teams

Free Resource for Dental Offices Seeking Stronger, Grit-Filled Leadership

Running a dental office isn’t just about systems and schedules—it’s about people. And the kind of leadership you bring into your practice determines whether those people thrive or just survive. Whether you’re a dentist, an office manager, or a team lead, the truth is the same: how you lead matters.

In this week’s free training, we’re focusing on a topic that every dental office needs to address but often doesn’t—limiting beliefs and leadership grit. This training goes hand-in-hand with the upcoming episode of No Silver Spoons, hosted by me, Sarah Beth Herman, where I walk you through the unseen weight many leaders carry behind closed doors. That episode drops Monday, but today? We’re getting honest about the thoughts that quietly sabotage your team’s growth—and what to do about them.

What’s Really Holding Dental Leaders Back?

You’ve probably read dozens of articles about burnout in dentistry. Sure, it’s real. But in many cases, the root issue isn’t burnout. It’s beliefs. It’s the internal narrative playing on repeat in the minds of your team and even in yourself. It’s that sneaky little voice that says:

• “I’m not ready.”

• “If I don’t do it, it won’t get done right.”

• “I’m not as experienced as other dentists or leaders.”

• “I can’t lead this team—they won’t listen to me.”

Sound familiar?

These are limiting beliefs—ideas we accept as truth that end up putting a ceiling on our potential. They are not just internal whispers; they are costly. In a dental office, they often lead to:

• Delayed decisions

• Staff disengagement

• Poor communication

• High turnover

• Stagnant growth

In other words: limiting beliefs can hurt your bottom line. And they impact your patient experience just as much as your team culture.

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Understanding Limiting Beliefs in Leadership

According to psychologist Albert Ellis, the originator of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), many of our unproductive behaviors are rooted in irrational beliefs (Ellis, 1994). These beliefs often stem from early experiences and societal conditioning, and they influence how we react under pressure.

In a dental setting, this can sound like:

• “If my assistant doesn’t do it my way, it’s wrong.”

• “My team won’t respect me if I show vulnerability.”

• “I’m not good with confrontation, so I’ll just avoid it.”

But leadership requires more than experience—it requires clarity, resilience, and what psychologist Angela Duckworth famously calls grit (Duckworth, 2016). And that grit is what separates the dental practices that grow from the ones that plateau.

Grit vs. Burnout: Why the Difference Matters

Let’s call it like it is: burnout is often used as a blanket explanation when grit is missing. But grit isn’t just about hustle. Duckworth defines it as “passion and sustained persistence toward long-term goals.” In the latest No Silver Spoons episode launching Monday, I talk about my experience managing a chaotic office dynamic in Franklin, Tennessee. It was a season of frustration, confusion, and behind-the-scenes drama that would’ve broken a lot of leaders. But it was also the season that grew me the most—not because it was easy, but because it taught me to choose grit over emotion. Purpose over performance.

When your dental office hits a rough season—when patient complaints rise, or staff members are in conflict—grit keeps you centered. Burnout says, “I can’t do this anymore.” Grit says, “This is hard, but I can still show up.”

Four Common Limiting Beliefs in Dental Leaders

During research for this episode, I polled some of my community leaders and even talked to dental professionals I mentor. I kept hearing the same four limiting beliefs come up, so if any of these sound like your team—or you—it’s time to work on the mindset:

1. “If I don’t do it, it won’t be done right.”

   This is rooted in perfectionism and fear of delegation. But it stunts team growth. Delegation with training is a leadership skill that creates leaders within your team.

2. “I’m not cut out for this level of responsibility.”

   Imposter syndrome runs rampant in dentistry. But being unsure doesn’t make you unqualified. In fact, awareness of your gaps makes you better.

3. “I’m not as smart or strategic as other practice owners.”

   Comparison kills innovation. Your leadership is not meant to look like theirs—it’s meant to work for the team you have.

4. “I have to wait until everything’s perfect to move forward.”

   This one delays progress. Excellence beats perfection every time. If you wait for the perfect day to take action, you’ll stay stuck forever.

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What’s At Stake in Your Dental Office?

These beliefs aren’t harmless. They manifest as:

• Avoided hard conversations

• Staff losing respect due to indecision

• New hires not being onboarded properly

• Treatment plans not being followed up on

Leadership isn’t just about charisma or experience—it’s about clarity. Harvard Business Review recently wrote that we are in a “clarity era of leadership” (HBR, 2024), where leaders are expected to act with decisiveness, emotional intelligence, and purpose. That includes knowing when to shift your mindset and lead yourself first.

A Leadership Exercise for You and Your Team

Ask yourself (and your team leads) this question:

Am I performing leadership or practicing it?

There’s a difference.

Performing means striving for validation and appearing in control. Practicing means showing up daily with humility, growth, and resilience. If you’re always trying to “look” like a leader, you’ll burn out. If you “practice” leadership, it becomes a sustainable part of your daily rhythm.

Start Your Day With This Affirmation (And Share It)

Here’s a leadership affirmation I started using during one of the hardest seasons of my career, and it still grounds me today: “I am not here by mistake. I do not have to prove anything. I just have to lead well today.” Try starting your morning huddle with it. Print it. Hang it. Say it out loud. Leadership in a dental office is fast-paced, high-stakes, and deeply relational. You don’t need fluff. You need reminders that ground you in truth.

The Franklin Office: A Story About Grit in Action

In this week’s No Silver Spoons episode, I go deeper into a story about a dental management position I held in a high-conflict environment. The team was tired. The leadership structure was unclear. And trust was broken. But I made a decision every single day: lead the team anyway. And over time, things shifted—not because I controlled everything, but because I focused on the one thing I could control: how I showed up. I led without bias. I made people feel seen. And I didn't wait for the drama to die down before showing up strong. That office? We turned it around. Some of those team members are still connected with me today. What we created was real, raw, and resilient.

The Takeaway for Your Dental Team

Here’s what I want your team to remember: Leadership is not a performance—it’s a purpose. And you were handed something more powerful than a title. You were handed fire. So if your office is feeling stuck, if your culture is slipping, if your team is tired… it’s time to revisit the internal beliefs driving your leadership. This free training is your starting point.

Leadership in Your Dental Practice Should:

• Equip people, not exhaust them

• Empower tough conversations, not avoid them

• Be led with clarity, not confusion

• Be sustained with grit, not perfection

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Final Thoughts Before the Episode Launches

Make sure you subscribe to No Silver Spoons wherever you listen to podcasts. This Monday’s episode is one of the most vulnerable I’ve ever recorded, and it’s for anyone who’s felt like they’re carrying a quiet weight in leadership while trying to pretend everything is fine.

Share this post with your office manager, your dentist friends, your regional leaders. Let’s shift the mindset in dentistry from survival to sustainability. From burnout to grit. From limiting beliefs to leadership breakthroughs.

And if you’re ready to go further, reach out. I offer mentorship, team workshops, and strategic training built specifically for dental offices—because I believe dental leaders are some of the most powerful leaders in the world. You just need the right tools.

Let’s go lead well—starting today.→ Episode drops Monday. Until then, screenshot this post and share it with someone who needs to remember: grit changes everything.

References:

• Duckworth, A. (2016). Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance. Scribner.

• Ellis, A. (1994). Reason and Emotion in Psychotherapy. Carol Publishing.

• Harvard Business Review (2024). The Clarity Era of Leadership. Retrieved from hbr.org

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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.