“I wanna glide down over Mulholland, I wanna write her name in the sky.” This line for the hit could be related to the importance of setting goals and striving to achieve them as a leader.
“I’m gonna free fall out into nothin’, gonna leave this world for a while.” This line could be related to the idea of taking risks as a leader and stepping outside of one’s comfort zone in order to achieve success.
Tom Petty’s iconic song “Free Fallin'” reached a significant milestone on the Billboard charts. According to Billboard, the hit song spent 46 weeks on the Hot 100 chart, peaking at number seven in 1990. The song also spent 20 weeks on the Adult Contemporary chart, peaking at number one.
Gravity is an unstoppable force that has a way of bringing everything back down to earth. Fighting against it can be futile and exhausting, and the same can be said about leadership. In order to be effective, leaders must learn to stop fighting gravity and instead, embrace it as a powerful ally.
Recently, my family took a trip to Disneyland for spring break. Our favorite is The Guardians of the Galaxy ride. If you’ve never been, it is a thrilling experience that takes you on a free fall through space. As the ride begins, riders are lifted to the top of the tower and then suddenly dropped, experiencing a feeling of weightlessness as they plummet back down to earth. This feeling of free fall can be unnerving the first time you ride, but it is so fun! Once you learn to embrace the drop, you want to go twice. Just like the riders on the Guardians of the Galaxy ride, practice owners and leaders must learn to let go of their fear and embrace the unknown.
In order to be successful leaders, we must be flexible and adaptable. As pastor John Maxwell said, “Successful leaders are willing to adapt or change their course when it becomes necessary.” This means that leaders must be willing to let go of their preconceived notions and be open to new ideas and perspectives. By doing so, leaders can build stronger teams and create a more positive work environment.
President Abraham Lincoln also understood the importance of flexibility and adaptability in leadership. He once said, “I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them the real facts.” This quote speaks to the importance of transparency in leadership and the need for leaders to be honest with their teams. By doing so, leaders can build trust and inspire their teams to work together towards a common goal.
Coach Phil Jackson also understood the importance of flexibility in leadership. He once said, “The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team.” This quote speaks to the importance of teamwork and the need for leaders to be flexible in order to build strong teams. By valuing each member of the team and recognizing their strengths and weaknesses, you can develop a sound culture of collaboration and support in your practice.
Flexibility is a crucial trait for effective leadership in today’s fast-paced and rapidly changing business environment. Practice Leaders who are able to adapt quickly to changing circumstances, embrace new ideas and technologies, and remain open to feedback from your team members will keep you better equipped to navigate the challenges and opportunities that arise in the workplace.
Here are three key principles on staying flexible in order to succeed.
Firstly, flexibility allows you to respond to changing market conditions and shifting customer demands. In today’s consolidating practice environment, you must be agile and responsive in order to remain competitive. The advantage of “small” business is being able to pivot quickly, adjust your strategies, and capitalize on emerging trends and being more likely to succeed in this dynamic patient environment. By being rigid and inflexible, you risk competing with DSOs and losing market share. My favorite is to adapt your membership plan to meet the market and services your patients are looking for. Not by trying to mimic insurance.
Secondly, flexibility fosters innovation and creativity within a practice. Stay open to new ideas and be willing to experiment with different approaches. Your team members will be more likely to feel empowered to take risks and propose creative solutions to problems. This will also grow the membership component of your practice.
Finally, flexibility builds trust and collaboration among your team members. When you are willing to listen to feedback from your team members, consider different viewpoints, and adjust your strategies accordingly, team members feel valued and respected. This fosters a sense of trust and collaboration that can improve communication, boost morale, and ultimately lead to better patient and profit outcomes. Memberships are a fantastic way in my experience to build profit, value and help your patients feel and see the success they are able to achieve, without boundaries.
By remaining open to new ideas, embracing innovation and experimentation, and building trust and collaboration among team members, you can position your practice for success in years to come.
A “Free Fall” serves as a healthy reminder that sometimes we must stop fighting gravity and instead, embrace it as a powerful ally. As leaders, we must learn to let go of our fear and be open to new ideas and perspectives. By doing so, we can build stronger teams and create a more positive practice growth environment.
Have a great week!