You Don’t Have an Idea Problem—You Have an Execution Problem
In today’s fast-moving dental landscape, it’s easy to believe that success is one great idea away.
And let’s be honest—there’s no shortage of ideas.
I’ve worked with Dental Service Organizations (DSOs), dental group founders, and leadership teams who bring vision, energy, and ambition to the table. Whether it’s increasing average daily production, improving retention, developing clinical leaders, or expanding locations, they know what they want to achieve.
But what happens after the whiteboard session?
After the offsite?
After the PowerPoint deck?
Often... nothing changes.
“It’s not the speed of ideas that’s missing—it’s the speed of execution. You can’t fix what you refuse to build properly.”
That single sentence sums up what I see again and again. Great teams with big goals get stuck—not because they’re lacking strategy, but because they haven’t built the infrastructure, habits, or leadership discipline to carry it out.
Let’s explore why execution is the missing link—and how to fix it.
The Illusion of the Quick Fix
One of the most common requests I get from CEOs is, “What are the quick wins?”
I understand why. Time is money. Teams are stretched. Investors want to see progress. But this desire for speed often drives us to skip over what matters most: doing things right.
For example, I recently worked with a group struggling with high turnover and low doctor production. Their first ask?
“Can you help us increase ADP in the next 30 days?”
Here’s what I found:
No onboarding process for doctors or hygienists
No formal mentorship or clinical development
Poor morale across the clinical team
A culture of overwork without recognition or support
Improving production without addressing these root issues would be like asking a dentist to place a crown without fixing the underlying decay.
You can’t fix what you refuse to build properly.
The Real Cost of Poor Execution
When execution breaks down, you see symptoms like:
High turnover
Low productivity
Wasted resources
Confusion among managers
Loss of trust from frontline teams
But the root cause? Lack of clarity, structure, and accountability.
If your plan lives in a slide deck but doesn’t make it to the morning huddle, it’s not a plan—it’s a wish.
Ideas vs. Execution: What’s the Difference?
When it comes to growth and performance, there’s often a gap between ideas and execution. Ideas define the vision, inspire the team, and set goals. They often live in strategy decks and sound great in meetings. Execution, on the other hand, is about building the systems that bring those ideas to life. It means aligning people to action, assigning ownership and accountability, integrating strategy into daily workflows, and ensuring those ideas show up in performance and culture. It’s not about choosing one over the other—it’s about bridging the two to create lasting, measurable impact.
How High-Performing DSOs Execute Well
If you want to solve real challenges—like retention, clinical performance, or operational chaos—you must treat execution as a discipline.
Here’s what top-performing DSOs do differently:
1. They Build Proper Foundations
They don’t skip the basics:
Clear onboarding for every clinical role
Structured mentorship and development
Defined clinical expectations and scorecards
Systems for performance feedback and coaching
2. They Train Their Leaders to Lead
Execution doesn’t live at the top—it lives in the middle.
If your regional leaders, directors of ops, or clinical directors aren’t trained in how to lead, coach, and communicate... your strategy dies in the field.
3. They Embrace Accountability
They build in regular touchpoints:
Weekly check-ins on performance metrics
Monthly strategic alignment calls
Clear ownership for every initiative
Transparent reporting structures
Accountability isn’t micromanagement—it’s how you honor the goals you’ve set.
What You Can Do Today
You don’t need to overhaul everything at once. Start by asking:
Does my team know what success looks like?
Do we have the systems to support people in achieving it?
Are we reviewing execution weekly—not just annually?
Who owns each initiative, and are they supported to lead it?
Then decide: do you want another set of ideas—or do you want to build something that works?
Final Thought: Strategy Isn’t the Problem
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: you don’t have an idea problem. You have an execution problem. And solving it doesn’t require magic—it requires commitment, clarity, and consistency.
If you’re ready to stop spinning and start building, I’m here to help.
Let’s Build It Right—Together
If you’re facing stalled initiatives, underperforming teams, or strategy that never seems to stick, let’s talk. I help DSOs turn vision into reality with clear plans, leadership development, and execution support that gets results.
Let’s align your people, your processes, and your performance.