Release & Reflect — A Thanksgiving Message for Dental Leaders

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. Letting go creates space for what’s next.”

As we pause midweek for Thanksgiving, I want to start with something simple:

Thank you.

Whether you’ve been with us since the beginning or just joined recently, I’m grateful you’re here — growing, leading, and creating impact inside your practice, business, and life.

2025 was a big year.
It stretched all of us.
And yet, here you are — still leading.

Today’s reflection is both a strategic release and a personal reset — and it's a reminder that you don’t have to carry everything into 2026.

What Your Dental Practice May Need to Let Go Of

You’ve likely been reviewing systems, planning for Q1, and evaluating team performance. But here’s the truth:

Most dental leaders don’t struggle because they’re doing too little.
They struggle because they’re doing too much of the wrong things.

Here’s what you might need to release to make space for stronger growth next year:

1. Unprofitable Procedures or “Legacy” Services

• What are you still offering out of habit — not strategy?

• Where are you stretched clinically without seeing ROI?

💡 Ask: Would I choose to offer this again if I were starting fresh?

2. Team Roles That No Longer Fit

• Are people still in the right seats?

• Are you leading with delegation or still micromanaging?

💡 Ask: Is this role driving the practice forward or keeping us stuck?

3. Broken Operational Systems

• What keeps breaking, stalling, or requiring workarounds?

• What tech, tools, or workflows do your team actually use?

💡 Ask: If we removed this system tomorrow, would we feel relief or panic?

4. Old Mindsets That Limit Practice Growth

• Are you stuck in the “I have to do it all” loop?

• Are you leading like a clinician… or like a CEO?

💡 Ask: What belief about leadership is holding me back?

5. Overfunctioning in the Name of Culture

• Are you protecting team harmony at the expense of standards?

• Are you tolerating underperformance to avoid discomfort?

💡 Ask: Am I managing feelings… or leading performance?

Practice Growth Requires Space

You don’t need a new business model overnight.
You just need clarity — and the courage to release what’s no longer aligned.

Leadership isn’t about holding it all.
It’s about knowing what to let go of so the practice — and people — can rise.

Thought Leadership Anchor

From “Dare to Lead” by Brené Brown

“Clear is kind. Unclear is unkind.”

If you want your team to grow, your systems to scale, and your practice to thrive — you have to be clear with yourself first.

Clarity requires reflection.
And clarity creates freedom.

A Personal Note of Gratitude

To every client, colleague, and member of our community — I’m grateful for you.

You are the reason this work matters.

In a world that asks leaders to move faster, you’ve chosen to pause, reflect, and do the deeper work — and I don’t take that for granted.

Thank you for trusting me, for building with me, and for continuing to create something extraordinary — in your life, your leadership, and your business.

This Week’s Practice Owner Journal Prompts

• What part of the practice feels heavy — and why am I still holding it?

• Where is the team depending on me instead of systems?

• What service, system, or standard no longer reflects our values?

• What is one thing I’m grateful we let go of this year?

Final Word

This Thanksgiving, reflect not just on what you’re grateful for — but what you’re grateful to be done with.

Let that clarity guide your next move.

Release with courage.
Lead with gratitude.
Grow with purpose.

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at The Hanlon Group.
We couldn’t do this without you.