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Refining Leadership: Work ON Your Practice, Not Just In It

By Ben Nobles, Founding Partner, The CxO Advisors
and Amanda Nanasy, OD

Oct. 7, 2020

Prologue for the Four-Part Series “Lessons in Leadership”

It’s no secret practice owners are pressed for time. Between caring for patients and managing staff, long-term business planning and working “on” the practice often slips through the cracks.

Working “In” the Practice
Most of us are hard-wired to put our “heads down” and go to work with a singular focus on patient care. Taking care of patients is the DNA every OD received since the first day of optometry school.

Working “in” the practice is what we do best yet it often creates our biggest blind spot as a profession. Providing the best exam and being the best clinician for our patients is only part of the journey. Unfortunately, many of us did not receive adequate business training to deal with the myriad of challenges we currently face as small business owners.

As we provide the best patient care in the community, or at least do it better than our competition it is easy to hope the success of our business will follow. If you have not realized your dream practice from being an amazing doctor alone, perhaps you should ask yourself a few questions to find the missing piece of the business puzzle.

Exploring What’s Missing

  • Why are we still not meeting all our practice goals? Does my staff understand our practice vision for success?
  • Why is our strategy not working? Do we even have a strategy? Would my staff all give the same elevator speech on what is most important for the business?
  • Why are our benchmarks lower compared to the industry averages? How do we get our revenue and profitability per exam up?
  • What is the difference between my $600,000 practice and Dr. ISEEMOREPATIENTS down the street who is twice my size?
  • No one ever told me how much I needed to “communicate or talk” with patients and my staff. Is it really that important?
  • Why does my team (both OD’s and staff) sometimes not follow through on what I ask them to do? Where is the breakdown?
  • How do I build a successful culture for the practice and office that both my patients and staff will recognize? Is culture that important?
  • How do I attract and choose the best employees for my business?
  • Do I even have the right people on the bus or in the right roles? If not, what do I do about it?
  • Are my employees engaged and what impact is it having on my success?

Working “On” the Business
In this four-part Leadership Series called “Lessons in Leadership,” we will explore some of the best strategies to be a more effective owner and CEO for your business. We will also share practical tips and examples of how to not just work “in” your business, but more importantly, how to work “on” it!

One of the most impactful actions we can all do right now is to hit the “pause button”. Setting aside time and energy to think critically about our leadership approach, could provide the key to unlock the practice we all envision. Consider the years you spent on becoming a great doctor. Running a successful practice may take some dedicated effort as well.

Becoming the CEO: A Roadmap to Strategic Leadership
We look forward to expanding on these important topics in our Leadership Series:

1. STRATEGY: A clear vision and strategy for the business is a game changer!!

2. PLAN: Doing the right things at the right time and place!

3. COMMUNICATION: What we say (or do not say) in the practice matters!

4. CULTURE: Why do your employees come to work every day?

See you in our upcoming series-Buckle up!
Ben & Amanda

 

 

 

Amanda Nanasy, OD, is the  co-owner of The Eye Center-Pembroke Pines, Fla., and director of the Florida Institute of Sports Vision. To contact  her:  AmandaNanasy@gmail.com

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