Have the Back of the Practice – Part 2

Executive Summary (from Part 1): Strong onboarding and retention begin with team members feeling seen and heard—core to building a cohesive Endodontic practice. I introduced the guiding mantra: Have the Back of the Practice—choosing what’s best for the whole team, every time. Read part 1 on this topic.

Retro Operatory

In this blog:

• Why putting the practice first creates clarity and momentum

• How to protect morale and manage emotional undercurrents

• The role this mindset plays in addressing hard decisions

• Common roadblocks that stall leadership

• QUIZ: Do You Have the Back of the Practice?

The Two Buckets Approach

Protecting team morale starts with clarity. Here’s a simple framework:

• Bucket ONE: Team members who want to be there.

• Bucket TWO: Those who fall below standards and erode morale.

Too often, owners keep Bucket #2 employees too long—leading to burnout, dysfunction, and disillusionment among those who do want to be there.

Why & How: Seeing the Practice as an Entity

When you remove family, culture, and community ties from the equation, what’s left is the practice as an entity for profit. This perspective helps Endodontists make decisions faster—especially when it comes to staffing and administration. Having the Back of the Practice means prioritizing sustainability and excellence over short-term comfort.

The Roadblocks

Every owner hits roadblocks while running a small business. The two patterns surface most often:

1. People Pleasing (see the definitive cartoon that epitomizes the People Pleaser located at the end of this article.)

2. Fear of Being Seen as the “Bad Guy / Bad Gal”

Both keep owners stuck—intellectually they know what to do, but emotionally they hesitate. Why? Because these habits are deeply rooted, often dating back to early childhood experiences.

People Pleasing and Fear of Not Being Liked can’t be solely addressed with reason or logic alone. They need focused coaching to rewire old beliefs and build new leadership muscles.

Read: Childhood Strategies – where these patterns are formed between ages 0–7.) And how Endo Executive Coaching uses weekly momentum and consistency to effect change.

Invitation

Ready to lead with clarity and protect what matters most in your Endodontic practice? If you're facing hard decisions or want to build a culture, let’s work together. Coaching helps transform hesitation into confident action—and ensures you Have the Back of the Practice.

Endo Executive Coaching uses weekly momentum and consistency to effect change.