Navigating Growing Pains in Private Practices: Uniting Multiple Shareholders Toward a Common Goal

Running a private practice with multiple shareholders can feel like navigating a ship with too many captains. Each shareholder brings unique insights + strengths, but this diversity can sometimes lead to confusion + conflict, making it challenging to focus energy on a common direction for scaling + growth. Here are some practical strategies to overcome these growing pains + align your team toward a unified goal.

The Power of Visual Tools and Storytelling

One of the most significant challenges in a multi-shareholder practice is the lack of a common language. Different backgrounds, terminologies, + perspectives can make conversations feel like they're happening in "blah blah blah" land, where everyone talks past each other without productive outcomes. Sometimes, we might even argue the same point without realizing it because we're not speaking the same language, leaving everyone exhausted.

• Visual tools can bridge this gap. They create a common language + present ideas in a format that is easily digestible for all brains, regardless of language, background, or learning style. Think of diagrams, flowcharts, + mind maps – they can transform complex ideas into understandable visuals that everyone can engage with.
• Storytelling is another powerful tool. Whether you're talking to business partners, employees, lenders, or patients, they care more about how their lives will be transformed by what you do rather than what you can do. Stories create an emotional connection + take the audience on a journey, making it impossible for them to say no. Fun fact: We make decisions (buying decisions, strategic decisions, life-altering decisions…) primarily based on emotions (not data, like everyone assumes). Storytelling taps into this emotional part of the brain, making your message more impactful.

Two Simple Exercises to Align Your Team

To help your team align their efforts + cut through the pain points, I recommend two exercises: Dotmocracy and de Bono's Six Thinking Hats. These exercises can be used in your next meeting to help even novices contribute effectively + focus the group's energy on common goals.

Dotmocracy

Dotmocracy is a simple yet effective decision-making tool that allows everyone to contribute + prioritize ideas.

• Brain Dump: Start with a brainstorming session where everyone writes down their ideas on sticky notes.

• Group Ideas: Group similar ideas together to create categories.

• Vote with Dots: Give each participant a set number of dots (stickers usually, but you can make do with a Sharpie.). They can place their dots on the ideas or categories they believe are most important. They can put all of their allotted dots on a single idea if they feel that passionately about it, or they can spread the dots around on multiple ideas they feel are important. 

• Analyze Results: The ideas with the most dots are prioritized, giving a clear visual representation of the group's collective preferences, allowing the group to spend bandwidth on fewer ideas with bigger results than if efforts were scattered around several incoherent initiatives.

This exercise ensures that all voices are heard + provides a democratic way to prioritize actions.

de Bono's Six Thinking Hats

Once you’ve uncovered the group’s priority goals, there is still room to allow members of the group to provide valuable input. De Bono's Six Thinking Hats is a simple, effective parallel thinking process that helps people be more productive, focused, + mindfully involved. It is a powerful tool for group discussions + individual thinking. The method is used to look at decisions (or “pitches”) from a number of important perspectives, allowing a more rounded + thoughtful approach to problem-solving. Here’s a breakdown of what each hat represents:

• White Hat: Information

The White Hat is all about facts + information. When you’re wearing this hat, you focus on the data available. What do we know? What information do we have? What is missing, + where can we find it? This hat is neutral + objective, seeking to gather all the necessary information without interpretation or opinions.

• Red Hat: Emotions

The Red Hat allows people to express their feelings + intuitions without the need for justification. How do we feel about this situation? What is our gut reaction? This hat acknowledges that emotions + intuitions are an essential part of decision-making. It gives space for feelings to be aired openly.

• Black Hat: Critical Judgment

The Black Hat is cautious + defensive, focusing on potential problems, risks, + challenges. It’s about identifying what might go wrong, considering the drawbacks, + looking for logical reasons why something may not work. This hat helps in anticipating difficulties + mitigating risks. It’s also super helpful if some members of the group are having a hard time accepting an idea for unknown reasons.

• Yellow Hat: Positive Judgment

The Yellow Hat is the optimistic viewpoint that looks for the benefits + values in a situation. It focuses on the positive aspects, exploring why an idea might work + identifying the potential benefits + opportunities. This hat encourages a constructive + positive outlook.This is important for bringing those Negative Nancies out of their doomsday perspective! 

• Green Hat: Creativity

The Green Hat is for creative thinking + generating new ideas. It’s all about innovation, alternatives, + possibilities. When wearing this hat, you are free to think creatively + explore new approaches without limitations. It’s a hat for brainstorming + free thinking. It is a good opportunity for quick thinkers to bypass objections raised in the black hat session!

• Blue Hat: Process Control

The Blue Hat is the organizing hat. It manages the thinking process + ensures that the Six Thinking Hats guidelines are observed. It’s about planning, control, + organization. What is our goal? What do we need to think about next? This hat oversees the process + makes sure the thinking is on track.

How to Use the Six Thinking Hats in a Meeting

• Introduce the Hats: Explain the purpose of each hat to the team and how they will be used to structure the discussion.

• Set the Agenda: Use the Blue Hat to outline the goals + objectives of the meeting. Decide how many minutes the group will spend in each “hat.” Make sure you spend equal amounts of time in each one!

• Gather Information: Start with the White Hat to collect + share all relevant information and data.

• Express Emotions: Allow team members to put on the Red Hat + share their feelings + intuitions about the issue.

• Identify Risks: Use the Black Hat to critically evaluate potential problems + challenges.

• Explore Benefits: Switch to the Yellow Hat to discuss the positive aspects + potential benefits.

• Generate Ideas: Put on the Green Hat to brainstorm creative solutions + alternatives.

• Organize and Plan: Return to the Blue Hat to summarize the discussion, outline next steps, + ensure that all perspectives have been considered.

By systematically wearing each hat, teams can ensure a comprehensive + balanced discussion, making it easier to reach well-rounded decisions + solutions. This method helps prevent groupthink + encourages contributions from all participants, fostering a collaborative + inclusive environment.

Good luck!

Navigating the complexities of a private practice with multiple shareholders requires clear communication + a unified direction. Visual tools + storytelling can help create a common language + emotionally engage your team. Incorporating exercises like Dotmocracy + de Bono's Six Thinking Hats in your meetings can align your team's efforts + focus on common goals, transforming growing pains into growth opportunities.

Remember, the journey to scaling + growth is more manageable when everyone is on the same page, speaking the same language, + working towards a shared vision.