PICKING THE RIGHT PARTNER

This morning as I packed my lunch, I looked at my food choices and thought "This used to be so easy. Why is this so hard now?" I was referring to selecting good healthy foods that would satisfy me while keeping my weight down. Then as was packing up for work, I looked at my gym shoes and thought to myself. "Do I want to bring my gym clothes? It's cold and I don't really feel like working out today." There was a time when nothing would keep me from the gym and I found myself thinking about why it was so easy before and now there seemed to be so much getting In the way of me accomplishing my goals.

Suddenly, as I placed the two timeframes together and looked at the differences, it struck me. The answer was so clear! I had previously had a personal trainer working with me and coaching me before, and today I don't.

This got me thinking about other areas of my life; some where I am winning and some where I am struggling. I thought about what was creating the difference and realized that wherever am winning, I have someone in my corner holding me accountable, pushing me, encouraging me and providing feedback. Where I am not, those are the areas I've decided that I don't need help and can do it on my own. Quite a revelation for a quiet Thursday morning!

But it's a good point to share. There is something to be said for the use of a support mechanism. This can be in the form of a coach (paid or unpaid) a supervisor, a strategic partner, consultant, mastermind group, or really anyone who is to work with you and hold you accountable.

QUALITY MAKES A DIFFERENCE

While there are many different people you can look to when you are trying to achieve something, it has to be said that quality makes a difference. I can tell you that I have been attempting to workout with my daughter and she is not even one tenth as effective as my trainer (although she does at least keep me from giving into my own susceptibility to skip it altogether for something more enjoyable). So what should you look for when choosing someone to walk along side you in achieving your goals?

1. Does the person have something to offer that you don't already possess? If the person group is not capable of affecting growth In you in some way, they are probably not who you need. There is quote by Albert Einstein that states "You cannot solve a problem with the same level of thinking it took to create it." Meaning that in order for you to achieve the results you want, you will need to change your way of thinking If you fail to work with someone that thinks differently than you, while you may eventually get there, it will take a lot longer, if you even get there at all.

   
   

2. Does the person have capacity to give you the support you need? It's great to find someone to learn from, but if they do not have the time to work with you, they are probably not the right person. You need someone that will actively engage with you on a regular basis towards improvement.

   
   

   If you have ever read a book and thought "That was a great book, I need to use what I learned." and then never did anything with that knowledge, you know exactly what I am talking about! The book can introduce an idea but without someone prompting you to act on those ideas, they just get filed away in the "good idea' cabinet of your brain but never make an impact because they are not acted on, or acted on consistently.

   
   

3. Is the person's expertise a reliable source? Years ago, my husband and I were doing a renovation in our basement and we hired someone out of desperation to do our concrete work. At the time we were having a hard time finding someone with expertise in concrete to do the work due to the small size of the job. The person we hired claimed 25 years of experience and we failed to do our research.

   
   

   Soon after he completed the work and he left, the concrete proceeded to dry. As we sat in another room, we started to hear snapping sounds. After we had both confirmed that we were hearing the same thing, we got up, came to the entry of the room and watched the concrete crumble before our eyes.

   
   

   The moral of the story is, make sure the person you are working with has the expertise to help you accomplish your goals. Otherwise you are playing Russian Roulette and could just end up with a mess.

The good news is that if you are trying to move your business forward, you already have a knowledgeable, reliable, worldwide trusted resource in your own pocket that is ready to step up and support you in all your business growth efforts.

At Henry Schein, you will find an entire team that is dedicated to supporting you and your business in growing and becoming best in class. With support tools ranging from education to deep business analyses and everything in between, we are experts in dental practices and group practices. Our passion is helping both your team and your business grow while sharing best practices from our experience with the most successful groups in the world.

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE?

Talk to your me or your favorite Henry Schein Representatives that you work with and we can connect you into the tools and support you need. Available to you now, we are ready to walk beside you to help you grow.