As a business owner or doctor, running an orthodontic practice and managing the care of patients can be challenging. There is clinical work we perform to keep excellence with our clinical standards, and there is administrative work to run the practice. As a result, most of us struggle to balance working in the business vs. working on the business. We get busy, continue to do what we are comfortable doing, yet miss the opportunities to grow, update and optimize our work.
Sometimes we optimize and work hard to achieve specific goals but fail to ensure our efforts lead us on the right path. Taking a strategic approach to planning the short-term and long-term priorities allows us to design the coordinated actions we need to overcome challenges and seize opportunities. The direction we choose is just as important as the work it takes to make things happen. Therefore, balancing strategic planning and executing our plans are critical steps in business and life.
Strategic thinking
A common myth is that big businesses, c-suites, or corporates develop strategies. Strategic thinking is just as vital in a small business and orthodontic practice. Putting in the effort to establish a solid plan helps a practice lead in our industry. Whether large or small, shifting from reactive work to reflective work is a critical step. Remember, a strategy is not a vision, aspiration, or a set of ideas. It should be a coordinated set of actions needed to meet an important challenge or opportunity.
Focus on execution
We should have a bias for action. All the planning in the world will need an effort to complete the plans. Once a solid plan is in place, it must come into reality with the proper tactics and coordination. Execution takes the strategy into three critical sources of accountability: the who, what, and when. Many plans fall apart without the proper execution. Remember to bring it home after the strategic thinking by following up with the implementation.
