The Talent Crunch Is Real
In today’s hyper-competitive business environment, planning and maintaining talent is everything. Whether running a dental practice, a tech startup, or managing a large consumer services organization, one universal truth stands tall: people are the greatest asset. We’ve all heard it…but what to do about it and how to win?
The best companies are investing heavily in recruitment, retention, and culture. According to a 2024 LinkedIn Workplace Learning Report, over 70% of business leaders globally see employee development and culture as critical to their organization’s future. But few receive leadership training and mentorship. People frequently are promoted because they are skillful at the task, not necessarily because they can lead others to similar success.
But hiring great people is only the beginning. Keeping them, growing them, and inspiring them to do their best work is where leadership comes in. The leaders who understand this and know how to build, and maintain, strong, cohesive teams will be the ones who win—not just today, but well into the future.
Lessons from the Locker Room
Let’s look at sports. Legendary NFL coach Bill Belichick didn’t just build winning teams by recruiting star players. He built systems, culture, and trust. Every player knew their role. Every player knew they were part of something bigger than themselves. Belichick famously said, “Do your job.” (Go ahead, say it in your famous coach voice). It wasn’t about flashy heroics; it was about execution, discipline, and trust in the system.
The same applies in business. A great team isn’t just a collection of high performers. Case in point, the 2024 Cincinnati Bengals. Despite having three league-wide leaders at their positions, the NFL team still missed the playoffs. Build a team with shared values, mutual accountability, and strong leadership at the top. Leaders set the tone, especially on the aforementioned accountability point. They define what excellence looks like, and they model it every day.
Adaptability: How Tech Teams Build Cohesion
In the IT world, the rise of agile methodology has transformed how teams operate. Small, cross-functional teams work in “sprints,” focus on clear deliverables, and meet daily to keep projects moving. It’s all about transparency, adaptability, and feedback. There are direct parallels here to team building in any organization.
What can leaders in other industries learn from this? First, that structure matters. Clear goals, frequent communication, and rapid feedback loops create a rhythm of progress. Second, empowering people to make decisions and own outcomes drives engagement. When people feel trusted, they show up differently. Third, be adaptable. According to Jon Fidler, The Dental Dividends Podcast Episode 101 guest, “Adaptability is perhaps the most important trait to becoming a great leader.” Growing companies consistently experience something new, and the ability to adapt can often mean the difference between success and failure.
The Cost of Getting It Wrong
Failing to lead well or build a healthy team culture is expensive. Poor leadership leads to high turnover, low morale, and decreased productivity. Gallup estimates that disengaged employees cost U.S. companies over $450 billion annually. Let that sink in. That is 450-million-million-dollars! It is literally like burning money.
Micromanagement, lack of vision, and toxic work environments repel top performers. In contrast, leaders who foster trust, celebrate wins, and provide growth opportunities create a magnet for talent.
What Great Leaders Do Differently
So what separates the good from the great? Here are a few traits we see consistently across high-performing leaders and teams:
1. They communicate with clarity and consistency.
People want to know where the ship is headed and how their work contributes to the bigger picture. Overcommunication is better than undercommunication.
2. They prioritize culture.
Culture isn’t just about perks and pizza parties. It’s about values in action. How do people treat one another? How are decisions made? How is performance rewarded?
3. They coach, not command.
Like a great sports coach, top leaders guide, encourage, and challenge their teams. They know that real growth comes from ownership and accountability, not control. If people knew how to do “it”, they would already be doing it. Demonstrating with positive reinforcement is a true sign of a quality leader..
4. They invest in their people.
Whether it’s continuing education, mentorship, or giving people stretch roles, great leaders believe that growing the individual grows the organization.
5. They hire for fit, not just skill.
You can train technical skills, but you can’t train character or chemistry. The best leaders learn how to look for alignment in values, attitude, and a willingness to grow. This can be a difficult skill to master if only hiring a few times a year and HR and recruiting professionals can be an invaluable and great resource.
Building Teams in the Dental Industry
Let’s bring it back to dental. In a dental practice, the team is the brand. From the front desk to the hygienist, every interaction impacts the patient experience. The team can sense that positive feeling. Great practice leaders who build thriving practices don’t just focus on clinical excellence—they also focus on culture, communication, and team alignment. Clinical care can be hard to measure, but a patient’s smile is easy to see. Celebrate that too. And reinforce how the full team is the foundation for the perfect crown.
Hiring a hygienist, assistant, or office manager isn’t just about filling a seat. It’s about strengthening the heartbeat of your practice. That means onboarding well, setting expectations, and providing feedback loops that help everyone grow.
Final Thoughts: Talent Is a Long Game
The battle for top talent isn’t going away. If anything, it’s intensifying. But it’s not just about flashy offers or big salaries. It’s about leadership and knowing how to recruit the right people. It’s about the daily habits and decisions that build trust, grow culture, and create a place where people want to stay and do their best work.
Whether you’re in a dental office, a plumbing service, or a family team—leading like a pro starts with valuing the people, building a bench, and playing the long game.
