As another year draws to a close, it’s a natural time to reflect on how far you’ve come in your dental practice and think about where you’d like to go next. Goal setting is essential in any business, but for dental professionals, it’s particularly important to regularly check in on practice goals to ensure continued growth and success.
Now that you have finished your New Year’s celebrations, and the new year is stretching out ahead of you, it’s worth taking a moment to review your professional goals, assess what’s working, and set new objectives for the upcoming year. This process can help reignite your passion for your work, improve patient care, and let’s not forget, boost that bottom line. So, let’s dive into how you can review and set new goals for your practice, with some actionable tips to get you started.
Step 1: Reflect on the past year
Before setting new goals, it’s crucial to take a step back and review the progress (or setbacks) from the past year. What did you hope to achieve 12 months ago? Did you accomplish your objectives?
To make this reflection meaningful, consider reviewing the following areas:
- Patient growth: How many new patients did you bring in? Did you retain most of your existing patients
- Revenue and profitability: Did your practice’s financials meet expectations? If not, where were the gaps?
- Treatment mix: Did you perform more of the treatments you want to focus on, like cosmetic dentistry or implants?
- Team dynamics: How did your team perform? Were there areas where communication or collaboration could be improved?
- Personal satisfaction: Finally, how satisfied were you with your work-life balance, personal fulfillment, and stress levels?
Honesty is key here. If something didn’t go as planned, don’t beat yourself up. Instead, look for lessons you can carry forward. Failure can be the best teacher, especially when it leads to a better understanding of what you want to change.
Step 2: Define your vision for the new year
Once you’ve reviewed where you stand, it’s time to look forward. What do you envision for your practice over the next 12 months? Be as specific as possible. Do you want to:
- Grow your patient base by 20%?
- Invest in new technology, such as a digital scanner or 3D printing system?
- Focus more on a particular type of service, like orthodontics or sleep apnea treatment?
- Improve patient satisfaction scores?
- Become a better leader/executive?
- Provide more training for your staff?
- Put more fun into the practice?
It’s essential that your goals align with your overall vision for the practice. Setting goals for the sake of goals won’t get you far; they need to inspire you and your team. Create a compelling vision for what success looks like. This vision will not only guide your decisions but will also keep you motivated when challenges arise.
Step 3: Set SMART goals
We’ve all heard about SMART goals, but how often do we actually apply the framework? SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Let’s break that down in a dental context:
- Specific: Instead of saying, “I want to grow my practice,” aim for something like, “I want to increase the number of patients by 15% by the end of Q2.”
- Measurable: Ensure your goal can be tracked.
Use metrics like new patient numbers, case acceptance rates, or revenue growth. - Achievable: Be ambitious but realistic. If you set goals that are unattainable, you’ll only set yourself up for frustration. Take stock of your resources and time availability. Should you look for some outside help and guidance?
- Relevant: Your goals should tie back to your overall vision. If you’re aiming to become the go-to cosmetic dentist in your area, focusing on implant cases might not be the best goal for this year.
- Time-bound: Set deadlines to keep you on track. Whether it’s a quarterly check-in or an annual milestone, adding a timeline gives your goal some urgency.
For example, a SMART goal could look like this: “By June 2024, I want to increase Invisalign cases by 25%, which will be achieved through improved case presentation skills, enhanced marketing efforts, and continuing education.”
Step 4: Break goals down into manageable tasks
A lofty goal can feel overwhelming, which is why it’s helpful to break it down into smaller, bite-sized tasks. This makes your goals more approachable and provides a clear roadmap to follow.
Let’s say you want to upgrade your technology. The smaller steps might include:
- Researching different products and systems
- Scheduling demos with vendors
- Checking references who already have it to see if they are happy
- Reviewing your budget and financing options
- Training your team on the new tech
Each step should feel doable, which will keep your momentum going. As you complete tasks, you’ll feel a sense of accomplishment that propels you toward achieving the larger goal.
Step 5: Engage your team
Your goals are only as strong as the team behind them. If your staff isn’t on board, even the best-laid plans can fall flat. Make sure to involve your team early on in the goal-setting process. Ask them for input and let them take ownership and accountability for certain objectives.
Consider holding a goal-setting meeting where you can outline your vision for the practice and gather feedback. Maybe your hygienists have ideas for improving patient retention, or your front desk team can suggest ways to streamline appointment scheduling. By involving everyone, you not only gain valuable insights but also increase buy-in.
As well, when your staff feels connected to the practice’s goals, they’re more motivated to work towards them. It becomes a shared mission rather than just another box to check.
Step 6: Monitor progress and adjust as needed
Once your goals are set and the plan is in motion, don’t forget the most critical part—tracking progress. Regularly reviewing your goals ensures you stay on course and allows you to adjust if necessary. For example, if your plan to increase patient reviews through a follow-up email campaign isn’t working, it might be time to try a new tactic, like SMS reminders or incentives.
Set quarterly or monthly check-ins to assess where you are versus where you want to be. These check-ins will help you celebrate wins along the way and course-correct when needed. Be flexible. Sometimes the goals you set may evolve as the year progresses.
Step 7: Celebrate achievements!
Goal setting isn’t just about identifying what needs to be improved—it’s also about celebrating victories, big or small. Whether it’s hitting a revenue milestone, completing a major technology upgrade, or improving patient satisfaction scores, take time to recognize your achievements.
And don’t forget to share the success with your team! A small celebration, an extra day off, or even a shout-out at the monthly meeting can go a long way in keeping morale high. When people feel appreciated, they stay engaged and invested in the practice’s success.
Conclusion
The end of the year is a perfect time to reflect on your dental practice’s goals and set new, exciting ones for the future. By reviewing the past year, setting SMART goals, engaging your team, and regularly tracking progress, you’ll set yourself up for success in the coming year.
Remember, the most important part of goal setting isn’t just writing down objectives but making sure they align with your vision and that you feel motivated to achieve them. When you’re clear on what you want and have a solid plan, the sky’s the limit. Here’s to making the New Year your best one yet!
About the Author
Janice Wheeler is the President of The Art Of Management Inc. which has helped grow more than 750 Canadian dental offices over the last 35 years. She is an international speaker, has written over 500 practice management articles (www.amican.com), regularly contributes to various Canadian healthcare journals, wrote a book “Practical Advice for Practice Owners” and another called “50 Ways to Lose a Patient”, and has an awesome team who love helping dentists reach their practice goals.
