Talking with the Toothcop

Management vs Leadership in Dentistry and the Best Practices for Business Success - Chuck Blakeman


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Mar 27 2018 30 mins   1
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Featured on this episode of Talking With the Tooth Cop is author, business coach, and mentor Chuck Blakeman. Throughout the interview, Chuck and I discuss the critical differences between management and leadership, how to avoid falling into the trap of always planning and never executing, and Chuck shares the two most important business words you’ve never heard of. He draws on his 35 years of experience and multiple best-selling books to give you the greatest knowledge in the dental industry, and it’s a conversation you don’t want to miss.

Doing business should not be a 30 year grind! And why money is not the ultimate motivator

Contrary to the “old guard” mindset that doing business has to involve 30 long years of doing work you don’t actually enjoy, business doesn’t have to be that way! Chuck urges listeners of this episode of Talking With the Tooth Cop to consider the question, “what motivates me to get out of bed and come to work?” The answer to this question is very rarely solely money-focused. Making money is not the sole empowering motivation to be at work, for any person in any industry. Essentially, dentists who own their own practice should strive to own an actual business, not a job. Too many practices rely on the dentist to be the income producer. And if the income producer isn’t physically present at the site (i.e. not on vacation or doing work outside of the office), money isn’t being made. If this is the way your practice is being run, then you own a job. Be sure to listen to my conversation with Chuck to discover how to rejuvenate your motivation for working in dentistry and how to revamp your practice’s processes.

What do Leonardo Da Vinci and the dental industry have in common?

Even though the famous artist Leonardo Da Vinci and the dental industry have seemingly nothing in common, Chuck changed that mindset for me on this episode of Talking With the Tooth Cop. Da Vinci trained an apprentice to paint in exactly the same manner as he, stroke for stroke. The end result was 2 identical Mona Lisa masterpieces. Up until a few years ago, the world thought Da Vinci himself had painted both pieces. Chuck explains that the lesson to be learned from this story is that if Da Vinci can find someone to train and mentor to that high caliber level, then certainly modern dentists can too. You have to avoid the voice in your head that tries to claim that you’re the only person who can do this work and do it well. This theory is commonly referred to as the “craft person’s disease,” or the Da Vinci Principle. This mindset will prevent you from moving onto bigger and better projects. For the full intriguing story, don’t miss this podcast.

The best 2 questions to ask yourself and how to find the answers that will lead you to success

The biggest takeaway from this episode surrounds 2 main questions: 1) Is what I’m doing right now the highest and best use of my time? And 2) If what I’m doing isn’t the highest and best use of my time, then how do I do it for the last time? Chuck tells me that you have to relentlessly pursue finding these answers because they will set you free. No matter if it takes you 3 minutes or 3 months after you answer these questions you will be presented with a game plan that will take you into the next level of business success. If you have to hire a new worker, train your current employees, buy a new software, or find a new process, whatever it may be, just start doing it! Your practice and your life-work balance will thank you.

Why management vs leadership destroys engagement and why you should have stakeholders instead of employees

When employees are managed and not led, their ability to create and engage with the work is destroyed. That’s the idea behind Chuck’s second major book, “Why Employees Are Always a Bad Idea.” He claims that no one should ever be managed - everyone should always be led. If you replace the idea of having “employees” with having “stakeholders” your practice will achieve higher levels of flow and success. Chuck is a huge proponent of the idea of “giving everyone their brain back” and empowering them to make localized decisions in their area of expertise. By leading your stakeholders you require them to bring their highest and best level of work to the practice every single day. And that’s how you achieve your goals. Chuck explains these stellar ideas and more on this podcast episode, and you don’t want to miss his insights.

Outline of This Episode

  • [0:22] I introduce my guest for this episode, author Chuck Blakeman
  • [2:16] Chuck explains his background and discusses his new book for dentists
  • [4:44] On why younger audiences “get” these ideas easier
  • [7:52] Why you can and should find someone who can do your work as well as you can
  • [10:20] Chuck’s idea of a “maxi-me” and how you can love your work and do business better
  • [14:21] The two best questions to ask yourself as a business owner
  • [17:26] Management destroys engagement, and leadership creates it
  • [20:48] How to avoid suffering from paralysis of analysis, and the two most important business words you’ve never heard
  • [26:07] Chuck’s way of looking at the world in a counter-logical, 100% intuitive way

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