Lonely at the Top, Leading with Authority (Even When You’re Friends)

We’re diving into a topic many practice managers quietly struggle with—what happens when your team feels more like friends than employees? Dana and Sandy tackle a heartfelt listener question: “How do I manage a team I’ve been friends with for years?”

Whether you were promoted from within, or made the mistake of hiring a friend, this episode will help you maintain professionalism without sacrificing connection. You’ll learn how to:

• Lead with warmth while keeping your edge

• Set clear boundaries and expectations

• Avoid favoritism and cliques

• Stay approachable without losing authority

• Create protocols that do the talking for you

👥 Listener shoutout: Thank you, Heather, for bravely sharing your story and inspiring this important conversation.

Key takeaways:

• Consistency over comfort builds trust.

• Keep friend chat and leadership decisions separate.

• Use writing to reduce drama and maintain accountability.

• If you hire a friend, be prepared to lead like a boss—not a buddy.

🔊 Special thanks to our sponsors: 🦷 Plan Forward – Simplify and grow your dental membership plans with ease. Learn more at planforward.io 📣 Identity Dental Marketing – The industry’s go-to for branding, SEO, and growth. Discover how they can elevate your practice at identitydental.com 📞 Mango Voice – Smart, reliable phone systems designed for dental practices. Learn more at mangovoice.com

📲 Join the conversation! Ask your question or suggest a topic in the Dental Drill Bits Facebook Group — your comment could be featured on a future episode!