The success of an orthodontic practice often hinges on the careful orchestration of clinical expertise and effective business management.

While the orthodontist focuses on delivering great ortho and providing overall leadership and vision, there's often a behind-the-scenes hero who ensures the practice runs smoothly - the Director of Operations.

In this episode, I am joined by Nicole Pruitt, the Director of Operations at Boschken Orthodontics. She has been instrumental in the practice's success and shares what it takes to deliver on this role.

Nicole's partnership with Dr. Boschken highlights the significance of having a trusted individual by your side in your practice. Dr. Boschken often credits Nicole as a key factor in their success and emphasizes her role as the "better half" when discussing the practice's achievements.

Nicole's career path may not have followed a traditional route to orthodontic management.

She started her professional journey in sales before joining Boschken Orthodontics in 2011 as a Treatment Coordinator and eventually to her current role.

Nicole's sales background has proven to be a valuable asset in her role. She has brought the principles of sales, customer service, and effective communication into the practice. This also dispels the myth that you need someone with a formal business school background, such as an MBA, for this role.

Finding the right Director of Operations can be challenging, and the road is littered with relationships that have fallen apart where people tried to make it happen.

Even though there's no one-size-fits-all formula for finding the right person, Nicole and I go through some qualities to look out for and some mistakes to avoid.

Tune in!

Key Takeaways

- Nicole's background and entry into orthodontics (00:59)

- Qualities of a successful director of operations (05:10)

- Importance of having a right-hand person (07:04)

- The visionary and leadership role of an Orthodontist (17:02)

- Biggest mistakes in hiring director of operations (26:19)

- The feedback fix (32:22)

- Nicole's favorite part of her job (35:08)

Additional Resources

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