Would You Make A Good Dental Management Consultant?

By Virginia Moore and Debbie Castagna, Co-Founders, The Practice Source
Successful dental management consultants almost always start out their careers in other roles within the dental community. Some are software trainers, many are former office managers, dental assistants, or hygienists. Even many doctors decide to hang up their clinical hat at some point in their career and enter the consulting arena.

Some join consulting firms, while others opt for self-employment. The focus of this article is on those who choose self-employment, with all the challenges (and equal number of benefits) that come with being your own boss. Some will flourish, earning healthy six-figure annual incomes. Some will do reasonably well, and some will fail. Why? What separates an ‘okay’ consultant from a ‘great’ one? And what is your potential as a dental management consultant?

To help you answer that question, first take this self-quiz and evaluate your score. Answer true or false to the following 12 statements:

T/F: I am willing to take a calculated risk to start my own company.
T/F: I am good at problem-solving.
T/F: I am even-tempered.
T/F: I have good verbal and written communication skills.
T/F: I can be firm when necessary, even when it involves someone in a position of authority over me.
T/F: I am often the first one to arrive and the last to leave.
T/F: I’m good with numbers, and know the difference between a Profit & Loss Statement and an Expense Projection.
T/F: I am willing to work hard to learn new skills.
T/F: I am able to portray confidence, even when I don’t always feel it.
T/F: I’m flexible and understand things don’t always go according to plan.
T/F: I understand the importance of a professional appearance and demeanor.
T/F: I return phone calls and email promptly, within 24 hours.
T/F: I do what I say I will do, when I say I will do it.

How did you score?

10-12: Congratulations, you have similar personal and professional qualities to the most successful management consultants.

7-9: Well done, with a little effort and willingness to learn, your successful career as a management consultant could be waiting for you!

0-6: Never mind, consulting isn’t for everyone!

Are you consulting already, just without the job title?

“During my five years as an Office Manager for a specialist, I often found myself giving him advice on ways to fix problems in the office, ways to save money, how to deal with personnel issues, what kind of benefits we should be offering our staff, whether or not to refinance our building, what kind of computer system we should be buying. I was providing a basic form of management consulting, just without the job title or the recognition. I think if I’d known how to get started, or where to go for more training, that is the path I would have chosen.”

Have you ever felt this like former office manager? Do you find that you are often the ‘go to’ person when problems need solving, or when someone else in the office has an issue they can’t resolve? Do you find yourself giving advice or answering questions that you could – and should – be charging for? If so, a career in dental management consulting could be waiting for you.

DEBBIE CASTAGNA & VIRGINIA MOORE
Dentistry has always been a perfect ‘fit’ for Virginia Moore and Debbie Castagna, two of the industry’s most experienced and accomplished consultants, speakers and authors. They are co-founders of The Practice Source, a company that provides management consulting as well as practical, results-oriented practice management books and e-books, including “The Doctor as CEO” and “The Ultimate Staff”. They are also co-founders and instructors of The Consulting U, an intensive ‘master’s training program for dental management consultants.
www.ThePracticeSource.com
www.TheConsultingU.com