JACD 71-4 - American College of Dentists

material is considered to be bad until
it has been proven otherwise. Whether
I am too naïve to know when I am
treading on sacred grounds, or too
unconcerned about the statements of
doomsayers, my autonomous actions
have been successful.
The creativity allowed by freeing my
mind from tradition has allowed significant
successful change. I feel that leaders
should think and act creatively and forget
as much of the past dogma related to a
potential new plan or concept as possible.
Of course, carefully analyzing the history
related to the creative plan is necessary
before instituting it.
Personal Responsibility and Drive
In my opinion, there is a price that each
leader pays. That price is often belittled
by some who call leaders “workaholics”.
I have yet to see a great leader who did
not devote significant energy and time
to the leadership position. The leader
who cruises through a leadership term
is rapidly forgotten. The leader who
devotes whatever it takes in terms of
time, energy, and money to the position
makes a difference. Some would consider
such a leader to be selfish and too devoted
to the leadership position, but try to
remember a great leader who has not
done just that.
Personal drive and acceptance of
responsibility appear to be prerequisites
for great leaders. However, a word of
caution is appropriate. The great leader
is much like a juggler. As each aspect of
his or her life is observed, scheduled,
and accomplished, there are many other
aspects of life that may go undone. The
great leader must also accomplish that
seemingly impossible task of keeping all
aspects of life in perspective while the
leadership position is being accomplished.
Such organization of time allows return
to the non-neglected life activities when
the leadership position is completed.
Journal of the American College of Dentists
Ability to Say No
This is a characteristic of leaders that is
difficult to develop. Great leaders can
say no and still make the person being
denied feel good. Leaders must determine
when a proposal, suggestion,
meeting, or idea is not acceptable, and
the leader must say no in a way that is
not objectionable and that still allows
communication with the denied person or
group. When attempting to say no, some
leaders antagonize their staff members
and cause frustration, dissent, and lack
of support, while others maintain the
morale and good will of their associates.
Good leaders can agree to disagree and
make the disagreement acceptable.
Charisma
This term is somewhat difficult to define
but highly desirable in a leader. It may
come from an attractive appearance,
obvious excellent previous accomplishments,
money, power, position, or
numerous indefinable factors. You can
probably remember some leaders who
had significant charisma, and most likely
you found them easier to follow than
other leaders who were not charismatic.
Although charisma is not a mandatory
characteristic, it is a desirable one.
Summary
The dental profession is in need of leaders
in education, research, public health,
organized dentistry, individual homes,
private practices, civic and religious
organizations, and in many other
aspects of life. The upcoming generation
of dentists can be assisted in developing
good leadership characteristics by
observing the leaders of the past and
patterning their lives after those people.
The preceding information has listed
some of the characteristics of leaders as
identified in the lives of known leaders
and my personal observations. ■
National Leadership Symposium
It is difficult to follow
leaders who promote
out-of-date, stale ideas.
Leaders unknowingly
supporting the failed ideas
of the past cannot be
influential with their
co-workers.
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