Demonstrating Dedication to Growth
I work in a large office with eight other dental hygienists. I would like to take on more responsibility with the hopes of possibly making a change into dental service organization (DSO) management at some point. How can I show my employer that I am up for the task?
Congratulations on being a futuristic leader! It is one of the many qualities needed by professionals who desire increased responsibility. As life-long learners in the dental profession, we must continually consider ways to build our knowledge and skills to demonstrate our dedication to professional growth.
Dentistry is rapidly changing and as an aspiring DSO leader, you need to demonstrate by your skills, character traits, and communication abilities that you serve as a role model and leader in your practice.1 Following are some effective strategies you can implement now.
1. Take the Initiative to Raise Your Hand.
When opportunities arise to volunteer for leadership roles or projects that can demonstrate your management skills, raise your hand. Strong leaders take initiative and, through their responsibilities, they gain the trust of their colleagues.1
2. Share Your Goals With the DSO Leadership and Specifically Ask Them How You Can Improve and Position Yourself for the Leadership Role You Desire.
Letting your DSO leaders know of your career aspirations will help keep you in mind for future opportunities and assist you in tailoring your leadership growth to what you specifically need to land your dream position. It may also lead to further mentorship that can open the door for additional leadership development.2
3. Track Your Contribution.
Whether you are looking to grow a career in academia, entrepreneurship, or DSO leadership, you must begin to track your contribution. As clinicians, our primary goal is to care for the needs of our patients and the community as a whole. As a leader, you need to demonstrate how your contributions can support organizational growth and company initiatives. When you gather qualitative and quantitative achievements, such as improvements in patient satisfaction, feedback and reviews from peers,3 or project outcomes, you demonstrate your management readiness.
By integrating these strategies, you can showcase your readiness for a leadership position in a DSO setting and position yourself as a strong candidate.
References
- Antoniadou M. Leadership and managerial skills in dentistry: characteristics and challenges based on a preliminary case study. Dent J (Basel). 2022;10:146.
- Gray J. Leadership-focused coaching: an uplifting approach for supporting aspiring leaders. Available at ncpeapublications.org/attachments/article/749/Leadership-Focused%20Coaching-%20%20A%20Research-Based%20Approach%20for%20Supporting%20Aspiring%20Leaders%20.pdf. Accessed August 5, 2025.
- Edelmann CM, Boen F, Stouten J, Vande Broek G, Fransen K. The power of peer leaders: exploring the link between peer leadership behaviors and sustainable work outcomes. Behav Sci (Basel). 2023;14:2
From Dimensions of Dental Hygiene. September/October 2025; 23(5):46.
