ADMC Practice Growth Expert - Strategic Consulting and Leadership Coaching
By Laura Webber, CEO of Excellence in Dental Management
Every dental practice owner wants growth. Whether it’s higher production, a stronger team, or more time off without stress, we all have our ideas of success and the “perfect” practice. But here’s the hard truth: without accountability, growth isn’t sustainable. You can have the best systems, hire talented team members, and set ambitious goals, but if no one is truly responsible for outcomes, your practice growth will come to a halt. Accountability is the foundation of a high-performing practice. And if you’re trying to grow without it?
Spoiler alert: it’s not going to happen.
What Accountability Really Means in Dental Practice
Some practice owners hear the word “accountability” and immediately think of micromanaging. Not only does that word make everyone cringe, but it sounds exhausting as a practice owner. Don’t worry, true accountability is more than just awkward conversations and watching your team’s every second. In a thriving dental practice, having true accountability means clarity and ownership. Every team member knows exactly what their responsibilities are and how their role supports the bigger picture. It’s not about blame; it’s about follow-through. Accountability also applies to leadership. As the owner, it’s your job to set the vision and ensure that expectations are communicated, measured, and reinforced. When there’s a breakdown, the question isn’t, “Whose fault is this?”. It’s, “Where did we lose clarity and how do we fix it moving forward?”
The Cost of Avoiding Accountability
You’ve worked hard to build the practice of your dreams. You’ve put in the hours. You’ve put in the blood, sweat, and tears (literally). And finally, things are running smoothly. It feels like you’ve made it. Until…you stop checking in. You assume everything’s still on track, but you’re not talking with your team like you used to, and you’re not watching the numbers as closely. Gradually, you notice things start to slip. Minor tasks aren’t getting done, but you don’t mention it. Then, you start to see larger mistakes, and your schedule looks lighter and lighter. A/R creeps up. Free cash flow takes a nosedive.
What happened?
The answer is almost always the same: nobody is being held accountable. When you stop paying attention and holding your team accountable, responsibility gets passed around like a hot potato. You hear things like, "I thought someone else was handling that.”
or
“We talked about it, but I didn’t know it was my job.”And in most practices, guess who ends up picking up the slack? The doctor. Suddenly, you’re chasing team members for follow-through, clearing up miscommunication, and wondering why no one seems to care as much as you do. But it’s not that your team doesn’t care; it’s that they don’t have a clear system for accountability. Without it, your most motivated employees will start to drift, burn out, or default to doing the minimum.
Creating Accountability in Your Practice
When everyone on your team knows exactly what they’re responsible for, and they’re held to it regularly, your systems WILL WORK. And when systems work, momentum builds. Here’s what that looks like in a successful practice:
- Your hygienists know their production goals and how to track them.
- Your front office follows clear protocols for treatment tracking, collecting payment, and keeping patients in the schedule
- The entire team doesn’t just talk about case acceptance, they ALL take action on it
- Your schedule is optimized, and your clinical team is organized
Want to know the best part? All this drives engagement! Most people want to do great work. They just need clarity, support, and feedback to stay on track. When expectations are vague, people check out. When job responsibilities are clear and leaders follow through, team members rise to the occasion. Remember, you don’t need to micromanage. You only need to:
- Set expectations.
- Measure what matters.
- Follow up consistently.
Do those three things and watch your practice come together. Watch your team become engaged and take ownership.Because real growth doesn’t happen when you do more. It happens when your whole team starts owning their part in the success of the practice.
So ask yourself:
Are you still checking in?
Are your expectations clear and being reinforced?
Are you building a team that owns their role in the success of the practice?Because practice growth without accountability?
Spoiler alert: It’s not possible.