Orthodontic teams have to balance external issues and internal factors every year. Some years are boom years, where it seems like we have the wind behind us and the practice grows. We also have many great patient responses, and it seems everything is in our favor. Other years, it’s a battle against the wind with challenges at every corner.
As many things are in flux around us, it is important to differentiate all the external factors that affect us. Specifically, factors for which we have no control over them. Versus the internal factors that we can control and have an equal, if not greater, influence on how well we do each year.
During the pandemic, many of us suffered through business closures for weeks or months. Post-pandemic, most of us saw a boom year with pent-up demand and great interest from patients to seek care. Now we face economic challenges that may decrease consumer interest in orthodontic care. When we are at the mercy of external sources of disruption, we can control very little except ride the wave. When we strengthen our internal controls, we have the opportunity to influence our immediate environment and thrive.
External influences
We often focus on our external environment and worry about its effect on our finances or orthodontic practices. Unfortunately, we worry about these influences, but we can do very little about them. We can’t do much about government regulations, the world economy, public health issues, and social trends. We are entering an economic environment with high inflation and labor shortages that affect our orthodontic practices. Therefore, what can we do to protect our practices from negative external influences?
Internal controls
Within our internal environment, we have excellent control over several elements. Many will say that it is not what happens to us, but how we respond that leads to the proper outcome. In business, this is very relevant and linked to the internal factors that affect our orthodontic practices. What we should focus on internally include financial systems, accountability, performance, human resources, team training, and company culture, to name a few.
Although there can be many challenges externally, we can run an effective team that prevents loss or mismanagement of important practice systems and resources. We can continue to thrive in a difficult environment by growing our influence and effectiveness at doing what matters most for our patients.
