Changing the rules on who attends meetings

Guest Contributor: Chris Barrow
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In previous years we have restricted attendance at our dental mastermind meetings to owners and their working spouses/partners.

Our rationale was that they wanted a "safe place" and a peer group environment in which to explore their business strategy and their "fears" around ownership.

Over the last 2 years we have found that a principal focus for our members has been a conversation on delegation and the creation of a superb support team, to whom they can entrust the day to day operational controls.

Dentists, like many independent professionals, tend to be "control freaks" and have difficulty in delegation (work done by the people on your payroll) and outsourcing (work done by those you hire temporarily).

We constantly reinforce our belief that a 21st Century independent professional can make a living by doing work - but can only create wealth by developing a team of workers.

In particular, we have emphasized the need to create a world-class business manager to whom the client can delegate everything except:

1. The client's unique income generating ability (the dentistry);

2. Strategy and

3. Leadership of the team.

What this means is that the "work" of running the business:

1. financial controls

2. marketing systems

3. customer service

4. selling

5. operational matters and

6. personnel

can be delegated to a professional whose unique ability is to run the company for the client.

Results include less stress, less homework and more time away from the workplace, taking quality recovery time with self, family and friends.

Well our coaching has worked - and our clients are hiring part and full-time business managers - and raving about the difference that has made.

And now a new question has emerged - "can I bring my shiny new Business Manager to the Mastermind meetings please?"

Our initial response was to decline - protecting the integrity of the group and it's original vision.

But we have listened - and the overwhelming request has been a change in policy - so we are about to contact our clients and offer the opportunity to invite their Business Manager to all or part of the proceedings.

I expect howls of protest from the committed solopreneurs - maybe even some who will depart.

But I know that this is the correct strategy to build better businesses and lives for our clients - so I'm going to stick to my decision and see what happens.