Are you truly a great leader? Or are you overestimating how good you are? In this episode, Kirk Behrendt brings in Michelle Wakeman, one of ACT’s amazing coaches, to reframe what it means to be a leader, why it’s important, and to share some of the best leadership lessons from thriving practices. To learn how to lead with confidence to build a successful practice, listen to Episode 981 of The Best Practices Show!

Learn More About Michelle:

• Send Michelle an email: michelle@actdental.com
• Follow Michelle on ACT’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/actdental
• Send Courtney an email to learn more about ACT: courtney@actdental.com
• Send Gina an email to learn more about ACT: gina@actdental.com

More Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life:

• Subscribe to The Best Practices Show: https://the-best-practices-show.captivate.fm/listen
• Join The Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpa
• Download ACT’s BPA app on the Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/best-practices-association/id6738960360
• Download ACT’s BPA app on the Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.actdental.join&hl=en_US
• Join ACT’s To The Top Study Club: https://www.actdental.com/ttt
• Get The Best Practices Magazine for free: https://www.actdental.com/magazine
• Please leave us a review on the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-best-practices-show-with-kirk-behrendt/id1223838218

Episode Resources:

• Watch the video version of Episode 981: https://www.youtube.com/@actdental/videos
• Read Traction by Gino Wickman: https://benbellabooks.com/shop/traction

Main Takeaways:

• Have a clear vision. Your vision is what provides direction for your team.
• Clearly define your clinical, financial, team culture, and life vision.
• Communicate your vision and core values to your team.
• Repeat your vision and core values for alignment.
• Walk the talk as the leader. Set the example.

Snippets:

0:00 Introduction.

0:58 ACT/Smile Source and BPA.

3:29 Why this is an important topic.

4:50 How does this show up in your practice?

10:22 Three key things that great leaders define.

14:02 Vision provides direction.

18:44 Four key areas of practice vision: Clinical vision.

22:51 Four key areas of practice vision: Financial vision.

26:13 Four key

Dentists aren't just clinicians — they're also leaders and entrepreneurs! In this episode, Kirk Behrendt brings back Miranda Beeson, ACT’s director of education, to share how to balance these three circles so you can gain control of your practice and reclaim your life. To start enjoying life in 2026 and beyond, listen to Episode 980 of The Best Practices Show!

Learn More About Miranda:

• Send Miranda an email: miranda@actdental.com
• Follow Miranda on ACT’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/actdental
• Send Gina an email to learn more about ACT: gina@actdental.com

More Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life:

• Subscribe to The Best Practices Show: https://the-best-practices-show.captivate.fm/listen
• Join The Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpa
• Download ACT’s BPA app on the Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/best-practices-association/id6738960360
• Download ACT’s BPA app on the Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.actdental.join&hl=en_US
• Join ACT’s To The Top Study Club: https://www.actdental.com/ttt
• Get The Best Practices Magazine for free: https://www.actdental.com/magazine
• Please leave us a review on the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-best-practices-show-with-kirk-behrendt/id1223838218

Episode Resources:

• Watch the video version of Episode 980: https://www.youtube.com/@actdental/videos
• Register to ACT’s BPA for their Dental Practice Success Triad tool: https://join.actdental.com/users/sign_in?post_login_redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fjoin.actdental.com%2Fc%2Fpractice-coaching-tools%2Fdental-practice-success-triad#email
• Read The E-Myth by Michael E. Gerber: https://www.michaelegerbercompanies.com/product/the-e-myth-revisited
• Learn more about The Sletten Group: https://theslettengroup.com

Main Takeaways:

• As a practice owner, you need to balance being a clinician, leader, and entrepreneur.
• Don't just “live in the chair”. If you neglect the other two circles, you can't thrive.
• Your practice will only grow to the level of your least developed circle.
• Anyone can improve their leadership and...

For the month of December, we look back at some favorite episodes of 2025. In this episode, Kirk Behrendt brings back Dr. Barrett Straub, ACT’s CEO, to break down the one basic equation you need to know to produce more while working less. Stop spending 220 days at the office! To learn how to produce more the right way, listen to Episode 979 of The Best Practices Show!

Learn More About Dr. Straub:

• Send Dr. Straub an email: barrett@actdental.com
• Join Dr. Straub on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/barrett.d.straub
• Send Courtney an email to learn more about ACT: courtney@actdental.com
• Send Gina an email to learn more about ACT: gina@actdental.com

More Helpful Links for a Better Practice & a Better Life:

• Subscribe to The Best Practices Show: https://the-best-practices-show.captivate.fm/listen
• Join The Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpa
• Download ACT’s BPA app on the Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/best-practices-association/id6738960360
• Download ACT’s BPA app on the Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.actdental.join&hl=en_US
• Join ACT’s To The Top Study Club: https://www.actdental.com/ttt
• Get The Best Practices Magazine for free: https://www.actdental.com/magazine
• Please leave us a review on the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-best-practices-show-with-kirk-behrendt/id1223838218

Episode Resources:

• Watch the video version of Episode 979: https://www.youtube.com/@actdental/videos

Main Takeaways:

• There are two ways to produce more: work more days or produce more per day.
• Figure out your production per day and gross production target for the year.
• Set your goals and decisions based on data, not with your emotions.
• Just working more days is not the answer. You need a plan.

Snippets:

0:00 Introduction.

1:37 Why this is an important topic.

2:48 Why emotion comes into this equation.

3:49 The equation for gross production.

7:06 Two key numbers to pull.

12:35 Time is the new rich.

14:21 Final thoughts.

16:47 ACT’s BPA.

Dr. Barrett Straub Bio:

Dr. Barrett Straub practices general and sedation dentistry in Port Washington, Wisconsin. He has worked hard to develop his practice into a top-performing, fee-for-service practice that focuses on improving the lives of patients through dentistry.

A graduate of Marquette Dental School, Dr. Straub’s...