Leadership Breakdown: How to Avoid Sabotaging Your Practice from Within
As your practice grows, complexity becomes inevitable. Are you ready for it?
Everything you experience in your practice is the result of the system you’ve created. That might feel like a heavy truth, but it’s an empowering one: if the system is producing less-than-ideal outcomes, you have the ability to change it.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed—struggling with hiring, frustrated by employee turnover, or watching costs rise while reimbursements shrink—it’s likely that your system is creating these challenges. Many private practice owners face this as their businesses grow. What starts as a simple operation quickly evolves into something far more complex, and without the right systems in place, growth can feel more like chaos.
Where Leadership Breaks Down
As complexity increases, most practice owners realize they need help managing their team. This often leads to hiring a practice administrator—someone brought in to bring order to the chaos. However, one of the most common mistakes is unintentionally undermining this person’s ability to lead.
What’s Causing the Breakdown?
- Lack of clear communication between you and your administrator.
- Employees bypassing the administrator and coming directly to you for answers.
- The administrator not having clear goals or the autonomy to achieve them.
This dynamic creates frustration for everyone involved. Employees become unsure of who’s in charge, administrators feel powerless to lead, and you’re left dealing with the same problems you hired someone to fix.
Why This Happens
It’s not intentional, but it’s human nature. Employees may avoid the administrator because accountability can feel uncomfortable, even threatening. Instead, they come to you for answers—especially if they expect you to be more lenient or agreeable.
And here’s the truth: this only happens because it’s allowed. Without boundaries, employees will naturally revert to seeking approval from the person they see as having the final say—you.
How to Fix It
The good news is, you can turn this around. A few key adjustments can restore clarity, structure, and leadership in your practice.
- Empower Your Administrator
Just as you value autonomy in patient care, your administrator needs the freedom to lead. They can’t manage the practice effectively if you’re answering questions or making decisions for the team. Trust their expertise, and allow them to take ownership of their role. - Clarify Goals
Without a clear vision for the practice, even the most skilled administrator will struggle. Define where you’re headed—both short-term and long-term—and communicate these goals clearly. When everyone knows what success looks like, it’s much easier to achieve. - Establish Strong Communication
Regular check-ins with your administrator are essential. Don’t wait until something goes wrong to have meaningful conversations. Ask questions like:- What challenges are you facing?
- What changes would you make to improve the practice?
- Do you have the tools and resources you need to succeed?
What Happens When You Get It Right?
When your administrator is empowered, has clear goals, and feels supported, everything in your practice improves. Employees thrive in a structured environment, patients benefit from a more organized team, and your practice is better positioned for growth.
Imagine a scenario where your administrator is excited to come to work on Monday morning because they’re equipped to make a difference. That’s what happens when leadership functions as it should.
Take the Next Step
If you’re struggling with leadership challenges in your practice, take a moment to reflect:
- Are you giving your administrator the tools and autonomy they need?
- Are you clearly communicating your goals for the practice?
- Have you unintentionally undermined their authority?
Don’t worry if the answers aren’t perfect—what matters is taking action.
Start by having an honest conversation with your administrator. Ask them what they need, and commit to working together to create a system that supports success.
Remember, your current system is delivering the exact results it was designed for. Ready to create a better one?
