“All enterprises or projects, big or small, begin in the mind’s eye; they begin with imagination and with the belief that what’s merely an image can one day be made real.”
- James M. Kouzas and Barry Z. Posner, The Leadership Challenge1
“The art of leadership is understanding what you can’t compromise on.”
- Seth Godin, Tribes2
Vision as an idea can be overrated. The reason has to do with a simple word.
“Why?”
The word, “why,” is a package deal. It contains a penetrating question and a leadership reality when it comes to your vision as a Solopreneur and Dentrepreneur®?.
There’s “imagination” as Kouzas and Posner stated in the opening quote. And there’s an “art” to leadership that must exceed “compromise,” according to Seth Godin.
Imagination and the art of leadership will drive your acquired or expanded dental enterprise.
Vision isn’t an idea it’s a strategy
There’s a radical intentionality within you as a successful Dentrepreneur®?.
Your drive as a Dentrepreneurial leader is to do something that no one else is willing to do or has done. TWEET THIS
Sure, there are other dental group practice owners. That’s not the point.
The point is your unique brand. How you build your team(s), develop your culture, and scale your processes.
There’s always room for innovation. And that’s what sets you apart from the also-rans in this space.
Maybe it’s the decisions that fail to be made at a point of compromise (as Godin states). Or perhaps it’s a lack of imagination that plays it safe instead of pushing the proverbial “edges” of dental group ownership.
There’s more to be accomplished. You’re up for it, right?
Good.
Here’s the question you must answer - “Why?”
I’ll not leave you hanging. In fact, let’s answer it.
Deciding Your Compelling W.H.Y. And How It Drives Your Future as a Solopreneur and Dentrepreneur®?
Decision 1:
W-orthy Commitment
Some decisions aren’t worth the price or commitment necessary to achieve your desired outcome. It could be more about you than your willingness to address the team(s) who’ve helped you get to where you are.
It’s important to filter the worthiness of your commitment through the overall impact the acquisition or expansion is having on your team. TWEET THIS
This isn’t to say you should let the crew determine the course - after all, you’re the leader.
But…
It does serve you and your enterprise to consider the impact your commitment has on the whole. Not everyone will agree, support, or stick around (with full commitment) to take the journey with you.
“Together” is a word that’s vital to your dentrepreneurial vision. You own the vision and leadership enables you to engage your culture around it - especially in an [LINK TO http://dentrepreneursolutions.com/homework-dentrepreneur%EF%B8%8F-must-acquiring-expanding/ <acquisition or expansion culture>].
- “Chunk” your big-idea vision into daily “nuggets” of action. Gain commitment around those tasks knowing that each accomplishment builds the overall enterprise.
- Gain daily, weekly, quarterly, annual commitment from your team(s). Their individual buy-in will lead to collective buy-in throughout your enterprise.
Decision 2:
H-eroic Inspiration
This is no time for low-energy, low-wattage effort.
Your dentrepreneurial enterprise demands the “heroic” in an expansion or acquisition culture. TWEET THIS
There’s too much at stake.
You’ve taken on more liability, more opportunities to serve, more team members, more collective energy, etc. Those and much more require dentrepreneurial heroes and heroines to rise up.
Inspiration at this level isn’t frothy nor is it benign and unimaginative. If you desire to “rally-your-troops” you must own your fears while inspiring others fearlessly.
You aren’t the only one who has followed a compelling vision into a new future. Your team(s) that stand by you are doing the same.
- Inspire your team from within. Find meaningful intrinsic rewards that compel them (individually and collectively).
- Avoid common carrot-stick motivators. Monetary incentives are primary but a “tribal” sense of belonging will drive long-term “together” commitment to the vision.
Decision 3:
Y-our Vision Becomes “Our” Vision
A familiar story illustrates this decision.
“An entrepreneur took her key executive to the top of a hill overlooking a city. She asked him, ‘Do you see that knoll down there just below the crest?’
He said, ‘Yes, I see it.’
She then asked him, ‘Picture a house on that knoll overlooking the city. Can you see it?’
‘Yes, I can see it,’ he replied.
‘Now picture a swimming pool on the left and a tennis court on the right of the house. Can you see it?’
‘Oh yes! I can see it,’ exclaimed the man.
She then said to him, ‘If you work hard for the next five years and the company does well, someday that will all be mine.’” 3
When the biting truth of that story sinks in 2 things will happen (as you’re building your dental enterprise):
1-You will understand that what’s “yours” isn’t always perceived to be “ours.”
And…
2-You will achieve success in an expansion as a Dentrepreneur®? when your compelling “why” becomes an “our” compelling “why.” TWEET THIS
Get it together. And guess what, you’ll succeed…together!
You can’t do this alone. Join our community of like-minded Solopreneurs and Dentrepreneurs®? today.
Contact us to help you drive your new, emerging, or current dental group enterprise forward.
Sources:
1 James M. Kouzas and Barry Z. Posner, The Leadership Challenge, p.93
2 Seth Godin, Tribes - We Need You to Lead Us, p.79
3 James A. Belasco and Ralph C. Stayer, Flight of the Buffalo - Soaring to Excellence, Learning to Let Employees Lead, pp.94-95