Dentists often set ambitious annual goals but get stuck in the daily grind. The problem? Without structure, it’s hard to keep your team aligned and focused. That’s where quarterly meetings come in.

Quarterly meetings create clarity, accountability, and momentum. They help leadership teams identify what’s working, reset priorities, and get everyone rowing in the same direction. At Dental A Team, we’ve seen practices transform once they implemented this simple but powerful rhythm.

Why Quarterly Meetings Matter

Think of your annual goal as a mountain. Each quarter is a boulder that gets you closer to the top, while your daily tasks are the small pebbles along the way.

Without quarterly meetings, teams chase too many ideas at once. With them, practices:

-  Stay focused on the right goals.
-  Build ownership and accountability across departments.
-  Solve issues with clarity and confidence.
-  Track progress weekly to keep momentum alive.

Step 1: Review the Last Quarter

Start by asking: How did we actually do last quarter?

-  What were the wins?
-  Where did we fall short?
-  Did the team accomplish what was promised?

Some offices even grade the quarter A–F. It’s a simple way to see if the leadership team is aligned.

Step 2: Define Your Annual Goals and Rocks

Reconnect with your annual vision. Then break it down into 3-5 “rocks”, the big initiatives that matter most this quarter. Examples include:

-  Hiring an associate.
-  Building an operations manual.
-  Increasing hygiene capacity.
-  Improving AR systems.

Each rock must include a definition of done so everyone knows what success looks like.

Step 3: Build the 90-Day Plan

Your 90-day plan turns rocks into actionable priorities. It should be:

-  Specific: everyone knows what needs to be achieved.
-  Measurable:  progress can be tracked weekly.
-  Realistic: goals match team capacity.
-  Time-bound: tasks align with the quarter’s timeline.

This level of clarity keeps practices from drowning in half-finished projects.

Step 4: Solve Issues the Right Way

Strong quarterly meetings reduce recurring problems because they’re built into the plan. For the rest, take time to address them directly.

At Dental A Team, we guide practices with proven systems for scheduling, onboarding, AR, and more. This ensures teams don’t just talk about issues, they solve them.

Step 5: Create Weekly Accountability

Quarterly meetings only work if they’re followed up. Each rock should have a weekly check-in, where progress is reported and obstacles are addressed.

This rhythm keeps 80%+ of quarterly goals consistently achieved. Without it, teams drift.

Why Outsourcing Quarterly Meetings Works

Many dentists try to run these meetings themselves. The challenge? It’s tough to be both the CEO and the facilitator.

An outside consultant helps by:

-  Keeping the team on track.
-  Bringing fresh perspective.
-  Allowing the dentist to focus on the visionary role.

That’s why so many Dental A Team clients say quarterly meetings are game-changing.

Final Thought

Quarterly meetings aren’t just about goals, they’re about clarity, culture, and confidence. When practices commit to this structure, they finally get the traction they’ve been chasing.

Ready to run more effective quarterly meetings? The Dental A Team helps dentists implement systems that make goals achievable and teams unstoppable. Schedule a Complimentary Practice Assessment call!

Let’s get your practice aligned for growth.

For more tips, check out our podcast.

Last updated: September 2025

Written by Jacintha Ham, Dental A Team