Dos and don'ts for leadership: How effective leaders communicate

Everything you do as the practice leader involves communication with your team, your patients, and the larger community. By improving your communication skills, you become a better leader, the team becomes more effective, and the practice is positioned to increase production.

Be positive -- always. A positive attitude is infectious for team members and patients alike. It inspires the team to deal with challenges in an enthusiastic manner. In addition, patients have more trust in positive people, and trust is a critical factor in providing optimal patient care, gaining higher patient retention and increasing case acceptance.

Don't just talk -- listen. Listening involves two things: hearing what is said and what is not said. Often the most important message being communicated is what has been omitted. As the practice leader, you must listen "between the lines."

Roger P. Levin, DDS, is the chairman and CEO of practice management consulting firm Levin Group.

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