With the endless responsibility of managing your dental career and life outside the office, your load may feel quite heavy. And if you’re a current female practice owner or a female dentist contemplating ownership, a few additional elements can magnify the pressure.

It could be the sociological pressures that come with the workforce or motherhood, or it could be the pressure to do it all or be the best at it all. No matter the type of stress you may be carrying, your concerns are valid and are worth addressing.

To help navigate the turbulence of being a female dentist while maximizing life’s opportunities, NDP Partner and supermom Christy Ratcliff has compiled a set of strategies and tips that have helped her feel more in control along the way.

“Success looks different for everyone,” Christy said. “You may see success through the achievements of your practice, or perhaps success is the pride from being a mom and a working dentist. The key is understanding that you have the power to choose what success looks like for you.”

Your Career Choice Gives You Options

If you’re considering your next career or life move, know that you don’t have to limit your options or choose between one opportunity or another. Whether you want to have a successful career, be a mom, travel the world, indulge in home projects or any other hobbies, you don’t have to choose between your career and your life outside the office.

Sometimes, it’s difficult to remember that one of the advantages of practice ownership is the opportunity to control your own career and the time spent in it. There are so many options in how you structure your practice to fit your life vision and goals.

Hiring an associate or bringing on a partner is just one way where you can customize your practice. With added help in the practice and an associate or partner who understands your priorities, you can work out a schedule where you have more flexibility with your time.

Whether you want to pick up your kids from school on certain days, take a two-week vacation or play with your pickleball team on Wednesdays, construct your practice to fit that vision. Don’t limit yourself by fear that you have to choose.

And if ownership is a goal, but it’s not in the cards for you right now, that’s okay. Focus on what you’re going to do in this moment while keeping that larger, long-term goal in mind.

Excellence, Not Perfection

For many female practice owners, there’s often a strong emphasis on being the best at everything. From being top of their class in dental school, providing world-class service to patients, striving for the “mom of the year” award or any other aspirations, such as running several marathons or volunteering for a favorite charity, women tend to set high expectations for themselves.

The reality is excellence doesn’t mean perfection. You don’t have to be the best at everything; you just have to strive to be the best version of yourself.

While you don’t want to limit your options, it’s also not a life requirement to be everything to all people. Instead of focusing on being the best, determine your priorities and carve out the things that mean the most to you. Set your boundaries and know how to say “no” when you need to. At the end of the day, your priorities and your vision of success should drive your actions.

Lead the Way, Your Way

When purchasing an existing practice, it’s easy to think you must fulfill the same role as the previous owner. Of course, you’ll need to take over general clinical and operational responsibilities, but you should be your genuine self and your own leader in the practice.

The staff and patients may be used to a specific leadership style and certain tendencies, and this may look considerably different from your personality if the previous owner is male. However, this doesn’t mean you need to mimic that or be an exact replica of that person.

Instead, own who you are and what you bring to the table. Show your authentic self, build relationships and trust the way that you do best. This is your chance to truly show your individuality and strengths.

Defying Perceptions

Gender bias constantly affects women especially in the workplace. The likeability bias is a specific type of gender bias where we let our expectations of what women and men are “supposed to be” change our perception of women and men in identical scenarios.

According to the likeability bias, men are expected to be assertive, and women are expected to be kind and nurturing. While a man may be perceived as “the boss” when being assertive, women who may show the same quality are deemed to be too controlling.

Because of this, female practice owners may find themselves in a no-win situation. It may feel like a stronger, direct personality can be seen as a negative factor for women, but this same personality can also help them be effective leaders.

As society is still trying to get past this gender bias, it’s important to be mindful of it and know that it doesn’t require you to change who you are.

If you’re an owner or in a leadership role, try to find a balance, using your soft, caring qualities as an advantage. For example, be concise and confident while keeping your tone warm. You can also lead by example and help bring this awareness to others. If you’re searching for an associate, partner or staff member for your team, try to separate these societal perceptions from an objective point of view during the interview process. Help others realize when they make assumptions rather than being objective.

While you can’t exactly control everyone’s perspective, you can control how you carry yourself and the type of example you set for others.

Your Village, Your Community

It may be a repetitive saying in life, but it truly takes a village.

Build a community of people you can lean on for mentorship and guidance. Find support from other female practice owners, moms who are business professionals or other like-minded people who have similar thoughts and concerns.

Sometimes, it’s a matter of talking through your situation with another trusted person who’s going through similar challenges. Voicing your thoughts and hearing that your concerns are valid can be a powerful tool.

While taking on certain challenges in your career or life can be daunting, they can also be rewarding. It’s just a matter of finding the path that works for you.

NDP strives to help all doctors feel empowered as they enter and exit practice ownership. If you have a specific question or situation to discuss, contact our team of transition advisors today.