Leadership is one of the most critical, and often overlooked, skills that determines the long-term success of a dental practice. Growing leadership doesn’t happen overnight. It takes awareness, consistent effort, and a willingness to learn from both wins and mistakes.
At The Dental A Team, we’ve seen firsthand that practices with strong leadership experience better team morale, improved patient care, and higher profitability. Let’s explore how to intentionally grow leadership within your team.
Awareness is the Foundation of Growing Leadership
Leadership starts with self-awareness. Before you can lead others, you have to understand your own habits, triggers, and tendencies. Many dentists jump straight into management without developing the personal awareness needed to lead effectively.
Growing as a leader means being open to feedback, acknowledging blind spots, and committing to personal growth. It’s not about having all the answers, it’s about being willing to listen, learn, and adapt.
When a doctor models this type of growth, the entire team follows. Leadership starts from the inside out.
Delegation Strengthens Growing Leadership
A key part of growing leadership is learning how to delegate. Many practice owners try to do it all, managing schedules, solving team issues, and handling operations. But that approach often leads to burnout and stalled progress.
The turning point comes when leaders trust others to take ownership. In one practice we worked with, the doctor empowered department leads for hygiene, administration, and assisting. Instead of managing 25 people directly, the doctor only had to lead three key individuals.
With consistent communication and weekly meetings, accountability improved, and stress dropped significantly. Delegation is not about losing control, it’s about building a stronger, more capable team.
Growth Plans Keep Leadership on Track
Creating measurable growth plans is one of the best ways to develop leadership skills and accountability. These 12-week plans outline specific goals, track progress, and help identify where additional coaching is needed.
When doctors and team members review these plans together, they create trust and alignment. Growth becomes visible and measurable, not just based on feelings or assumptions.
Consistent feedback loops ensure everyone knows what success looks like, and that’s what builds confidence, consistency, and long-term results.
The Right People in the Right Roles
In many practices, leadership struggles because the wrong people are in the wrong seats. Seniority doesn’t always equal leadership readiness. True growth happens when people are placed in roles that match their strengths and natural abilities.
Titles aren’t what create leaders, responsibility does. By recognizing what each team member does best and aligning roles accordingly, doctors can build a balanced, motivated leadership team that thrives together.
Ready to Build a Leadership Dream Team?
Growing leadership takes intention, humility, and daily practice. It’s about empowering others, building structure, and creating a culture where growth is the norm, not the exception.
At The Dental A Team, we coach dentists and teams to lead with confidence, delegate effectively, and build practices that thrive long-term. If you’re ready to grow stronger leaders in your practice, Schedule a Complimentary Practice Assessment call
For more tips, check out our podcast.
Last updated: November 2025
Written by Jacintha Ham , Dental A Team