Incidentally, if a woman does decide to assume full leadership responsibilities, people characterize her as difficult. There's a real conflict for women: They can either be successful or likable, a disconnect that speaks volumes. That conflict is certainly something I faced in my own career. When I was originally approached about moving into practice ownership, I hesitated. I wasn't sure that I was cut out to own a practice, and as the mother of a young child (now two), I wasn't sure the time was right. The conflict was very real to me: I felt like I had to choose between being a good wife and mother and becoming a business owner and growing my career. It was a decision I agonized over, and I didn't have any women in dentistry who I could hold up as role models. As Shannon put it during our conference, "You can't be what you can't see."
Fortunately for me, I had a strong support system, a husband who encouraged my long-term career goals, and a business partner, Aspen Dental Management, Inc., that believed in me and showed me a clear path to running my own business.
All of the women at the conference are at the front line in the battle against gender bias and are leaders in this charge. Every new patient who sees our faces is a glass ceiling being broken, the change we wish to see in the world.
As stated in the Harvard Business Review article, "The Unseen Barrier," "People become leaders by internalizing a leadership identity and developing a sense of purpose."4 Women, in general, have to create a vision that shows that they can be themselves and still be leaders. This is the first step in reversing gender bias.
The theme of the event was #LeadLikeaGirl, a motto that struck a chord with many of the doctors in attendance. It is emblematic of the responsibility and ownership female dentists have as leaders wherever they are, from their living room to the patient's bedside.
To lead like a girl, one must believe they have the ability to manage both work and life, to be nurturing and authoritative. Embracing both sides of the coin-the "masculine" and "feminine" traits-is ultimately what will make us better dentists and leaders in our practices.
In my four offices, I empower women to employ these traits to their advantage, especially in situations when they need to be direct and authoritative. For them to be successful leaders, they need to be given the tools, resources, and mentoring to be great. They need coaching. And they need to see other female dentists in leadership roles whom they can emulate and aspire to be like.
Glass ceilings still exist in dentistry, female dentists are still underrepresented in leadership roles, and yet they are far from what they once were. Women dentists are here to stay, and supporting and developing the qualities they bring to the table will only strengthen the industry.
It is events like the Women's Leadership Experience that allow female clinicians to learn to promote themselves and find mentors who can help them along in their careers. Devoting time to networking and developing relationships often comes second to the priorities of home and work, yet advancement requires a combination of skill and persistence, no matter the hurdles one faces.
The Aspen Dental Women's Leadership Experience is an event I hope all female dentists, present and future, can one day enjoy and experience. It is this kind of support that has helped me realize the success I have had as a dentist, businessperson, and leader-a culture that fosters professional development and success.
The days of assuming the doctor is a man are diminishing, and the role of women in dentistry is a trend that will continue to grow. The new face in dentistry can be caring and compassionate while still being authoritative and confident.
References
1. Solomon ES. The future of dentistry. Dental Economics. 2015; 95(2). http://www.dentaleconomics.com/articles/print/volume-95/issue-2/features/the-future-of-dentistry.html. Accessed May 15, 2015.
2. Diringer J, Phipps K, Carsel B. Critical trends affecting the future of dentistry: Assessing the shifting landscape. 2013. http://www.ada.org/~/media/ADA/Member%20Center/FIles/Escan2013_Diringer_Full.ashx. Accessed May 15, 2015.
3. O'Loughlin K. Helping dentists succeed in a changing paradigm. http://theadso.org/resources/uploaded/media/OLoughlin_ADSO%202015Vegas%20FINAL.pdf. Presented March 20, 2015. Accessed May 15, 2015.
4. Ibarra H, Ely RJ. Women rising: The unseen barriers. Harvard Business Review. September 2013. https://hbr.org/2013/09/women-rising-the-unseen-barriers. Accessed May 15, 2015.
Amrita Reddy, DMD, has partnered with Aspen Dental for 12 years and is the owner of four practices in southern New Hampshire. She is a 2003 graduate of Boston University's Henry M. Goldman School of Dentistry.