How A Win From 40 Years Ago Is A Great Lesson For Our Practices

I was thinking about goal setting for 2021 and thought about about a crazy event from a winter almost 40 years ago.

In about 6 weeks, we will celebrate the USA Men’s Hockey Team’s legendary victory over the team from the USSR. That USA team epitomizes a team of “nobodies” coming together to achieve greatness.

How did it happen? Some say chemistry, others say great coaching and many say it was a fluke; had they played another 20 times, they wouldn’t have one again.

But the real lesson is that, aside from movies, a team with significantly less talent just doesn’t beat the goliath most of the time. It takes excellent coaching, great players, chemistry and everyone working towards a common goal for great teams to win. This is also true in our offices.

Does your team consistently win? do you set goals and consistently achieve them?

You’ve got to have two things to win: A great coach and great players.

So, it leads to asking you about those two things.

Start with yourself. Are you a great coach, and if not, what are you doing about it? Are you setting aside time to become better at your coaching skills? Are you reading books on leadership? Are you taking courses? Do you have a coach of your own to help you get better at managing a team? are you as intentional about being a better leader as you are about your family time or your fantasy football roster?

How about your team? Do you have “A” players? If not, why? Have you sought out ways to avoid your hiring mistakes and bring in the best people to work on your team? Are you creating systems to develop your team members into “A” players or at least take your “C” players and guide them into “B” players? Are you jettisoning your toxic employees the second you realize they aren’t right for your team?

The beginning of the new year is traditionally a time when people set goals and look to the future. I’ll ask you now if along with that you’ve set up goals to make yourself and your team the best they can be.

“Winning” (however you define it) comes form great preparation and team members playing their best. Set your team up for success by working on yourself and your “players” future.

Hitting your goals depends on it.

Much love to all of you and wishing you the best.

If you want to be a part of a geographically exclusive Facebook group (OrthopreneursRD) where we come together to help each other build better practices and lower stress, please message me. To learn more about your region’s availability and what it’s all about, click HERE.

GLENN KRIEGERIS AN ORTHODONTIST WITH 20 YEARS OF RESTORATIVE AND COSMETIC DENTISTRY EXPERIENCE BEFORE HE RETURNED TO ORTHODONTIC RESIDENCY. DR. KRIEGER LEARNED ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF WELL-DESIGNED PRACTICE POLICIES AND SYSTEMS DURING A YEAR AT THE SCHUSTER CENTER FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN SCOTTSDALE ARIZONA, AND AN UNDERSTANDING OF GENERAL ACCOUNTING PRACTICES AND INDUSTRIAL PSYCHOLOGY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON GRADUATE BUSINESS SCHOOL’S “DENTIST AS CEO” PROGRAM. HE IS THE HOST OF “THE ORTHOPRENEURS PODCAST”, MANAGES THE ORTHOPRENEURS FACEBOOK GROUP AND RUNS THE ANNUAL ORTHOPRENEURS SUMMIT.