Sandy Pardue, Consultant/Classic Practice Resources
Sandy Pardue, Consultant/Classic Practice Resources
Sandy Pardue of Classic Practice Resources & Dana Pardue Salisbury discuss issues facing the dental practice owner of today.
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Sandy Pardue
Sandy Pardue

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

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

5/5/2025 6:41:00 PM   |   Comments: 0   |   Views: 58

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:

        
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    Lead with warmth while keeping your edge

        
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    Set clear boundaries and expectations

        
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    Avoid favoritism and cliques

        
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    Stay approachable without losing authority

        
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    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:

        
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    Consistency over comfort builds trust.

        
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    Keep friend chat and leadership decisions separate.

        
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    Use writing to reduce drama and maintain accountability.

        
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    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!

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