It has been said that goals that are not written down are only wishes. Putting words on paper for visualization holds tremendous power in helping us to realize our dreams, and giving us the motivation to make them come true. There is something very inspiring – and relieving – about seeing our priorities neatly organized and ready to come to life.
Understanding your vision will allow you to plan for your practice’s future, align your team to your vision, and provide guidance towards achieving your personal and professional goals and dreams. Writing a vision statement takes you through an introspective process of defining and documenting your ideal practice for today and the future.
Take some time to imagine and reflect on your deepest hopes for your practice. Create a vision statement that makes the dreams of your dental career feel tangible. You may have some goals that seem daunting, or too altruistic, given the realities of today. However, sharing both great and small expectations with your team is essential so they may have context and appreciation for your short- and long-term goals. Teams who understand their doctor’s vision are more likely to be proactive and confident in their abilities to influence patients to value your services.
When writing your vision statement, reflect on your target ideals at least five years into the future. Features of an effective vision statement include:
- A vivid and clear picture of your dreams.
- Memorable and engaging wording that keeps you inspired.
- Realistic aspirations.
- Values that are aligned with your personal beliefs.
Keep your focus pure when creating your vision for your personal, professional and practice future. Remember to represent your core values. Describe your ideal practice using “we” language, considering:
- Quality of delivery.
- Attributes of your team.
- Sense of ownership, understanding of responsibilities, contribution towards relationships with patients, etc.
- Business systems.
- What type of clinical dentistry do you want to deliver?
- Environment: Your office layout, patient waiting areas, operatories and staff areas. The experience you hope to create and the level of service you would provide in the ideal scenario.
- Schedule: Time with your patients, flow of the day, types and value of cases.
- Economics and profitability.
- Practice growth.
- How you foresee your interaction with other professionals.
Write this vision in your own words, making sure to express it in the present tense, as though you are already living your ideal practice and personal life. Soon you will see that what you are focusing on is expanding. This is your opportunity to state for the record what the ideal vision is for your practice. Knowing that this is the first important step to your dreams coming true, enthusiastically begin drafting your desired path.
