Pushback is Productive

The inventory room has become a disaster zone.

You envision a massive overhaul, perfectly categorized by your own meticulous system.

Your lead tech wants to organize it by what the team uses most often, so it's easily accessible.

For a moment, you want to pull rank and stick to your own plan.

But your tech isn't opening a conflict; they’re offering an idea that's genuinely good for the practice.

It’s a powerful moment for a practice owner to realize this: challenge isn’t conflict—it’s growth.

So many of us fear confrontation, believing that a quiet team is a happy team.

But silence isn’t a sign of peace; it’s often a sign of stagnation.

The truth is, creating a culture where team members can respectfully challenge each other (and you!) is the key to real progress.

This isn’t about micromanagement or finger-pointing.

It’s about a commitment to getting better going forward, using:

  • Facts

  • Experience

  • Open dialogue

When your team trusts that their perspective is valued, they stop accepting the status quo and start working with you to find better solutions.

Build a culture where challenges lead to wins.

Watch my video, “We Challenge Each Other,” to learn how.

Shirley Lockhart