Tuesday Tip: Leadership Lessons From Optimus Prime

Calling all Transformers! I began thinking about the power of the seemingly never-ending series of science fiction films during a recent two-hour leadership workshop in which I was presenting to a periodontist’s referring doctors.

Being the creative and curious person that I am, I had researched and discovered websites devoted to leadership lessons directly from Optimus Prime’s mouth (that is, if he had a mouth). Laugh if you will, but I quickly realized that the Autobot leader is one smart truck!

Here are some key lessons that can be applied to your practice so life is less like an action movie involving violent aliens and more like a nice, gentle documentary about ice cream and cookies.

Be an ‘Optimist Prime,’ not a ‘Negatron’

We all know dentists who are pessimists who never recognize the positives. This does not allow anyone to experience the feeling of accomplishment or success.

A good coach must be an optimist to recognize the true potential in any situation.

Never trust a Decepticon

If you’re not an authentic and genuine leader, you’ll never gain the trust, respect, and credibility of those who follow. If your team notices any hint of a hidden agenda, from that point forward, they’ll filter everything you say to stay safe.

Be real, feel comfortable being wrong sometimes, and admit when you don’t have the answers. It goes a long way!

Get in that car!

My favorite quote from the original Transformers film was: “Fifty years from now, when you’re looking back at your life, don’t you want to be able to say you had the guts to get in the car?”

At the workshop, I ran into the type of doctor who runs away in the face of conflict. He asked if he could share with his team member the financial coordinator job description sample I had presented. When I asked why, he said he wasn’t sure what his financial person did every day. Whenever he asked, she’d tell him, “You don’t need to know” and walk away.

My response? I put both my hands on his quaking shoulders and quietly whispered, “Get in that car.”

This sad tale takes place far too often in dental practices all over the country. My question to every one of you: Do you have the courage to do what you need to do, to get what you want?

If the answer is no, take a lesson from the Autobots!