Leadership: The Cockpit of Your Business Success
As a chiropractor or business owner, your role as a leader is much like being in the cockpit of an airplane - you must guide your practice to its destination while keeping all systems running smoothly. Donald Miller's approach to leadership in "How to Grow Your Small Business" offers a practical framework that can transform your practice from surviving to thriving[1][2].
The Three Pillars of Leadership
Mission and Vision
Your primary responsibility as a leader is to define a clear destination and create a roadmap to reach it. This starts with crafting a mission statement using the formula "We will accomplish X by Y because of Z"[2]. This simple yet powerful approach ensures your team understands both the destination and the timeline for getting there.
Key Characteristics
Success requires developing specific traits within your team. These aren't just generic core values - they're essential characteristics that directly contribute to achieving your mission[1]. For a chiropractic practice, these might include "calm under pressure" or "obsessed with patient care"[1].
Critical Actions
Leadership isn't just about vision - it's about daily execution. Identify three specific actions that every team member can perform daily to move toward your financial objectives[2]. These actions should be measurable and directly tied to your practice's success.
Building a Professional Operation
Management and Productivity
Implement a structured approach to team management through five essential meetings[2]:
- All Staff Meetings for reinforcing objectives
- Leadership Meetings to resolve roadblocks
- Department Standups for daily alignment
- Personal Priority Speed Checks for individual coaching
- Quarterly Performance Reviews for growth assessment
Time Management
As the leader, you must exemplify excellent time management. This means being punctual for appointments, meetings, and patient care. Remember, your staff will mirror your level of professionalism and commitment[5].
Creating Sustainable Growth
The path to growing your practice requires more than clinical expertise - it demands strong business acumen. Miller's approach helped him grow his business from a small basement operation to a $20 million enterprise[2]. This same framework can help you transform your chiropractic practice or small business into a thriving operation that doesn't depend solely on you.
Remember, true leadership isn't about commanding respect - it's about earning it through actions and accomplishments[5]. By implementing these leadership principles, you'll create a practice that not only serves your patients effectively but also provides the freedom and flexibility you desire as a business owner.
Citations:
[1] https://clearpurpose.media/book-brief-how-to-grow-your-small-business-4737b62100f5
[2] https://www.creativeo.co/post/book-summary-how-to-grow-your-small-business-a-six-step-plan-to-help-your-business-take-off-donald-miller
[3] https://leaddiligently.com/leadership-principle-small-business-entrepreneurs/
[4] https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-informed-chiropractor-podcast/id1291526534
[5] https://dynamicchiropractic.com/article/55856-practice-impossible-leadership-skills-for-a-thriving-clinic
[6] https://myzhealth.io/blog/steps-starting-solo-chiropractic-practice/
[7] https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/how-to-grow-your-small-business-donald-miller/1142269139
[8] https://www.summary.quest/how-to-grow-your-small-business/
[9] https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/the-vitality-shift-for-chiropractors/id1291526534
[10] https://ambpgbusinesscoaching.com/chiropractic-coaching/
[11] https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/63048990-how-to-grow-your-small-business
[12] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2585951/
[13] https://www.milliondollarchiro.co/blog/%2Fbest-books-for-chiropractor-business-owners
[14] https://businessmadesimple.com
[15] https://resources.businessmadesimple.com/overhead-and-operations/the-5-key-meetings-every-small-business-needs
[16] https://www.forbes.com/sites/kevinkruse/2021/03/29/bestselling-author-and-entrepreneur-don-millers-secrets-to-business-success/
[17] https://www.harpercollinsleadership.com/9781400226955/how-to-grow-your-small-business/
[18] https://www.harpercollinsleadership.com/9781400203826/business-made-simple/
[19] https://www.blinkist.com/en/books/how-to-grow-your-small-business-en
[20] https://www.creativeo.co/post/leadership-made-simple-how-to-create-guiding-principles-that-unites-your-team-using-a-story-framework
[21] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OATR5YPXAFA
[22] https://www.donaldmiller.com
[23] https://businessmadesimple.com/how-to-grow-your-small-business/
[24] https://lvrgmedia.com/blog/create-a-storybrand-for-your-chiropractic-website/
[25] https://www.reddit.com/r/Chiropractic/comments/13fnjof/recommended_business_courses_to_take_in_order_to/
[26] https://www.modernchiropracticmarketing.com/favorite-episodes
[27] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0ctLETuB30
[28] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5656150/
[29] https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/contd-your-next-5-steps-chiropractic-leadership-mastery-preston
[30] https://www.chirocolleges.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/printMTYxNw-printMTYxNw-DCR-2.0-Update.pdf
[31] https://resources.selectfunding.com/chiropractic-business-operations
[32] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6bhpzHKqtE
[33] https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/7c7739ef-6d9f-4381-8757-ec6f1dba3143/cultivating-success-a-mindset-shift-for-happy-successful-chiropractors
[34] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbkeF4bTELU
[35] https://www.facebook.com/people/Making-M%C5%AAVs-Digital-Marketing-Experts-for-Chiropractors/61553599065270/
[36] https://www.denovostrategy.com/outsideeconomicsblog/chiropractic-leadership