In honor of Veteran's Day, we recognize and appreciate the invaluable contributions of our active duty, reserve, and veteran service members to our nation.

As a veteran myself, I also reflect upon the twenty years that I spent as a US Army officer before retiring as Colonel starting private practice endodontics. I entered the military as a fresh-faced young man and left with a wealth of invaluable skills and experiences.

Here are five key lessons I learned in the military and how they have directly contributed to my practice success as an endodontist:

Lesson 1: Responsive leadership

In the military, leaders are trained to face challenges head on and act decisively. Decisions must be responsive and timely to avoid creating a disadvantage. Even when information is limited, calm and rational leadership always moves you forward.

In the practice, this lesson taught me that the best way to lead my practice is proactively. Rather than waste time waiting for perfect conditions to make any decision, addressing challenges and goals confidently and directly creates momentum for growth and success. Become biased toward taking purposeful action rather than letting a problem persist longer than it should.

Lesson 2: Standards and consistency

In the military, discipline, structure and standards are essential. Service members must adhere to strict schedules, follow orders and maintain high standards of performance.

In the practice, this lesson taught me that maintaining consistency in daily operations, upholding standards and personal discipline leads to greater productivity and success. As a doctor, demonstrating a strong work ethic, time management and attention to details fosters an environment focused on achieving daily and long-term goals.

Lesson 3: Teamwork and delegation

In the military, success often depends on seamless teamwork. Service members are trained to rely on one another, respect diverse skills and execute assigned tasks both individually and collectively.

In the practice, this lesson taught me that I can’t succeed on my own. Investing in my team and training them to a high level lets me delegate with confidence that assigned tasks are completed right. Effective teamwork requires everyone to understand their role, support one another, and work together with accountability for the result. Building strong teams leads to better problem-solving, a collaborative culture that is critical for success, and the ability to have fun together every day.

Lesson 4: Adaptability and flexibility

In the military, leaders must often deal with changing environments, such as unexpected terrain, new technology, new intelligence or evolving mission objectives.

In the practice, this lesson taught me not to become settled or complacent. Patients, referrers and clinical care are constantly changing in terms of expectations and opportunities. The ability to pivot, continually innovate, embrace new opportunities and strive for every day to be better than the day before is a key trait to achieve and sustain success at the highest level.

Lesson 5: Strategic planning and execution

In the military, leaders are focused on strategy, long-term planning and the execution of complex operations. The big picture goals can span weeks, months or years, with each day just one step in the mission.

In the practice, this lesson taught me that beyond the day-to-day activity in the practice, I must have a larger vision and strategic goals for growth and success to which I must make progress continually. To do that, I must plan ahead, anticipate challenges, and invest in the resources I need at the right time to drive growth.

Conclusion

I don’t run my practice like a strict military operation. However, I take advantage of my military leadership training to condition my mindset toward success. The lessons I learned are universal because any organization, as large as the military and as small as a dental practice, need principles that guide its achievements.