DTUK1510

15Practice ManagementJune 7-13, 2010United Kingdom Edition PracticeWorks KODAK R4 Practice Management Software PEARL is the new iPhone or Blackberry application for R4. No longer are you restricted to viewing your appointments, patient records and images on a computer screen. Now you can view them wherever you want, whenever it’s most convenient for you. Access your practice data on your iPhone or Blackberry with PEARL Another breakthrough from PracticeWorks For more information or to place an order please call 0800 169 9692 or visit www2.practiceworks.co.uk/links/pearl.asp PracticeWorks © PracticeWorks Limited 2010www.practiceworks.co.uk I was first asked to write an article on leadership when I was taking my practice man- agers’ qualification, and at the time I thought: ‘Why?’ I remem- ber learning the unit, and out of everything I was taught, one thing that has stuck in my mind. How you treat people can have a major impact on your life and your ability to lead. What the course did teach me was to define this management style, which is so important when you find your- self in a leadership position. Leadership is an achieve- ment, gained from hard work and dedication. Leaders are devel- oped, each individual leader will have their own views on leading a team, each leading in a different manner. Each style of leadership will have an effect on team mo- rale and your business. So which type of leader are you? Autocratic The first aspect that seems to go wrong in dental practices is the flow of information. Some indi- viduals give the impression that they are working for MI5 rather than running and leading a dental practice. Information is given to staff on a ‘need to know basis’ only. No feedback is given, no praise for good work; however this type of leadership is quick to blame. Autocratic leadership creates a vacuum. Not only do staff become confused about their duties be- cause they may lack vital data, but a feeling of insecurity could occur because they fear that something negative is happening. The vacu- um is filled in two ways. Staff in- vent their own methods to ensure completion of tasks, or they may prioritise the wrong things out of ignorance. Staff may behave in an aggressive manner with dislike for their leader. Leading a team in this way will encourage staff to be de- motivated and uninterested. Democratic Leading in this way will produce the best results. The democratic leader will include the team, staff will be motivated as the leader will recognise their achievements and praise accordingly. It never hurts to say a simple thank-you at the end of a session. This approach will enable the leadertoproducefeedbackwithout receiving any form of resentment. Staff will have a huge amount of information and often by listen- ing to their ideas, contribute to the smooth running of the practice. Involvement is an important as- pect in motivating and developing staff. Staff turnover will be reduced as individuals feel respected and valued. This all provides a better working environment. Non - interventionist This type of leader would have no relationship with staff. They would lead in an aggressive man- ner, but actually achieve very little. Staff morale would be low. No help would be openly offered unless a request was made. No feedback would be given. Leading a team in this manner would have an impact on the practice as staff would be demoralised, no motivation and the workmanship would be poor. The best solution Democracy is hard work, to lead in this style means find- ing a suitable pathway that is agreed by the majority. Good management is a blend of demo- cratic, autocratic and non inter- ventionist leadership. DT The way you treat people will have a great effect on your management skills, says Jane Armitage Learning to lead About the author Jane Armitage is cur- rently a practice man- ager for Thompson & Thomas, and holds a Vocational Assessors award. She is also a BDA Good Practice Assessor, BDA Good Practice Regional Consultant, and has a BDA Certificate of Merit for services to the profession. She has her own company, JA Team Training, offering a practice management consultancy service.

Please activate JavaScript!
Please install Adobe Flash Player, click here for download