The Practicon Viewpoint by Ann Page Griffin

SERVANT LEADERSHIP: MORE THAN A CONCEPT

THE PATH TO A WINNING DENTAL TEAM

You've probably heard the term Servant Leadership before. Ever wonder why those two seemingly contradictory terms are often combined to describe a strong, effective leader who has the respect and loyalty of his or her team?

My go-to dictionary gives several definitions of the word "servant." My favorite is: "one who expresses recognition or debt to another." A servant leader is therefore a person who is strong enough and sure enough in his or her own abilities and interpersonal acumen to demonstrate respect, regard, recognition, and, yes, display a debt of gratitude to those whom he or she leads.

During a recent conversation with a group of pediatric dental residents, one asked me to name a few qualities I have observed in the most successful dentists with whom I have worked. "Servant leadership" was my first response. The most effective, successful dentists—servant leaders, all—make team members realize they work with rather than for the dentist. These stellar dentist-leaders have many qualities in common—they respect, care about, coach, teach, cheer, delegate, compliment, hold accountable, and instill in their team members the joy, pride, and personal satisfaction of being a healthcare professional.

As author Max DePree wrote in his book, The Art of Leadership, "Leadership is much more an art, a belief, a condition of the heart, than a set of things to do. The visible signs of artful leadership are expressed, ultimately, in its practice."

So ask yourself: "Am I a servant leader?" Do I engender respect, loyalty, cooperation, teamwork, a sense of professional responsibility, an aura of belonging, a commitment to quality, a sense of pride in what we do for our patients? And do I make my staff believe they work with rather than simply for me?

Watch for next month's article, which will include a Leader Self-Evaluation Survey to help you assess your own leadership skills and needs. With determination, study, and focus, one can develop Servant Leadership attributes that can strengthen and propel your dental team to the gold medal level.