Do's and don'ts for practice turnaround: Bounce back from a bad year

You will always have setbacks as a practice owner, but the ability to bounce back is a sign of an excellent leader. As author Zig Ziglar once said, "It's not how far you fall, but how high you bounce that counts."

Tap into your inner optimist. Most business owners, including dentists, are optimists. You have to be -- what's the point of owning a practice if you don't believe you can succeed? However, a tough year can send your inner optimist into hiding. Dig deep and rediscover the positive outlook that's so vital for running a successful dental practice.

Don't forget to listen to your team. Your team has firsthand knowledge of management systems, processes, equipment, and patient experience. Their comments and suggestions should be viewed as valuable insider information. Not every idea will be a home run, but you don't want to ignore good feedback either.

Roger P. Levin, DDS, is the CEO of Levin Group, a leading dental management consulting firm, and one of the most sought-after speakers in dentistry. Dr. Levin has authored 65 books and more than 4,000 articles on dental practice management and marketing. You can sign up for the Levin Group Tip of the Day.

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