Dentaltown New Grad 2021 - 13

by Paul Edwards
Paul Edwards is the CEO and co-founder of
CEDR HR Solutions, a leading provider of ondemand
HR support for dental practices of all
sizes and specialties across the United States.
With more than 25 years of experience as a
manager and business owner, Edwards is wellknown
throughout the dental and health care
communities for his expertise when it comes to
helping owners and managers effectively solve
HR problems. He provides regular HR guidance
on his blog at cedrsolutions.com/blog.
I
n dental school, you're taught that the keys to your
success are directly tied to your clinical skills, and you
were not wrong to focus on becoming a great clinician
during your education. The reality, however, is that as
a working dentist, you will spend more time thinking
about your employees and HR-related problems than
your patients! That's why the biggest challenge to real
and sustainable success in the dental industry will not
be your clinical skills but managing and maintaining a
great culture within your team of employees.
Managing people can be hard, and becoming a great
leader requires a lifetime commitment to growth-both
for your team and your own leadership skills. You can
be the best dentist in the world, but you must also be
an effective leader. One without the other is like ...
Carolina barbecue without the vinegar sauce. I mean,
both are delicious, but together? Unquestionably the best!
My early businesses turned out to be the proving
ground for the HR company I eventually founded. I
made many mistakes and continue to learn new things
every day, and so will you. As frustrated or upset as you
may get, never forget what an honor it is to be a leader
and to have people look to you for help providing for
themselves and their families.
When I finally realized my highest purpose was to
lead others, my world changed. No matter my skills
or capabilities, the key to true and lasting success was
surrounding myself with great people. That is where
things like establishing core values, purpose and missions
come into play. Finding, keeping and leading great
employees is an art unto itself.
Because the American Dental Association projects
that 78.1% of dental grads are eventually going to
become practice owners, I thought I might share some
of the things I wish someone had told me when I first
got started. From this manager of people to those 78.1%
of you about to take that step, my largest piece of advice
would be this: Make sure you take some time to invest
in your education as a leader. What I've observed after
15 years of being the CEO of CEDR HR Solutions is
that the better I am at being a leader, the more successful
my business becomes. With that in mind, here are some
things that you probably aren't spending much time on
in dental school that will definitely be part of your daily
life at your future practice.
Understand the rules and
comply the best you can.
Every people problem has a corresponding employment
law that regulates what you cannot do when solving it.
When you understand the rules and regulations and comply
with them as an employer, it actually empowers you to be
able to lead with confidence and integrity. What's more,
if you are not aware of or not following the rules, you
may find yourself powerless as an already bad situation
blows up in your face, because you have been violating,
unaware or not, some important employment law.
It may feel like a drag, but trust me: Great leaders
need to confidently show they understand the rules
of the road. To this end, keep in mind that there are
going to be some things you are not competent to do.
Creating your own employee handbook is high on that
list. Likewise, keeping the one you were given, bought
or downloaded without being given extensive training
on how it works and protects you is a bad idea. The
handbook, even a well-written one, is not an asset unless
you receive one-on-one training.
The creation of culture,
mission and purpose
early on is critically important.
When I started my first business, I thought that my
most important assets were my skills and the business
itself. I was lucky because people would follow me for
the most part, but occasionally, for no apparent reason,
things would fall apart. What I have since learned is
dentaltown.com \\ NEW GRADS 2021 11
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Dentaltown New Grad 2021

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