I recently delivered the first two dates of my Mastering Practice Management course in Scotland, in both Edinburgh and Dumfries.
What I always enjoy most about these days is the people.
Bringing together practice managers, owners and leaders at completely different stages of their journey is always powerful. Some are just stepping into the role, finding their feet, whilst others have been, as I like to say, “running the show” for many years. Yet regardless of experience, the same themes always come through.
Practice management has changed. Dramatically.
One thing I have always said is that no two Practice Manager roles are the same. Every practice is different, every team is different, and every manager brings their own background, training, and personality into the role. On top of that, the level of autonomy given within a practice can completely shape how that role evolves.
Because of this, there isn’t one fixed definition of a Practice Manager anymore.
Instead, there is a journey.
Reactive vs Proactive Management – The Real Shift
During the training, we explore what I believe is one of the most important distinctions in modern practice leadership:
The Reactive Manager
Traditionally, this has been the core of the PM role — ensuring the practice runs from Monday to Friday.
- Managing the diary
- Handling day-to-day challenges
- Keeping the team moving
- Solving problems as they arise
This is essential. Without it, the practice simply doesn’t function.
The Proactive Manager (Business Leader)
This is where the role has evolved.
This is about:
- Leading projects
- Driving vision
- Developing marketing strategies
- Understanding and influencing finances
- Building a strong, recognisable brand
- Creating an exceptional, consistent patient experience
Leadership, Not Just Management
There is a very clear road that leaders need to walk now, understanding that management and leadership are not the same thing, but both are essential.
A successful Practice Manager today needs to:
- Deliver operational excellence
- Lead people effectively
- Think commercially
- Build culture
- Drive performance
And this leads to one of the biggest areas we discuss on the course…
The HR Gap – And Why It Matters
A huge part of modern practice management is HR.
And if I am honest, I am seeing too many gaps.
HR is no longer something you can “pick up as you go.” It is complex, it is evolving, and it is absolutely critical that leaders are trained to the right level.
Yes, employee rights are vital — but so is:
- Managing performance
- Handling capability
- Having confident conversations
- Holding standards
- Supporting and motivating teams effectively
Without this balance, practices will struggle moving forward.
What We Cover on the Day
I always aim to make these sessions practical, fast-paced, and immediately usable.
I cover:
- Delegation (and how to actually let go)
- Scheduling for success
- Effective meetings that drive action
- Communication frameworks
Hopefully you leave with clarity, confidence, and tools you can implement straight away, you can never implement everything but you can make definitive steps to improve every day. I always say if you do not have a list you do not get things actioned, so no list no actions.
Feedback
I was genuinely blown away by the feedback from the Scotland events.
Here are just a few of the comments:
“I really enjoyed Michael’s course and would thoroughly recommend it to any Practice Managers, new or experienced — he has some great tips and tricks.”
“From the beginning he had me captivated and I wanted to rush back to the practice and implement his strategies.”
“The content was incredibly relevant to the real challenges dental practices are facing today… practical, timely and truly resonated.”
“Michael is engaging and a fantastic course provider… his knowledge is shared in a very practical and easy to understand way.”
For me, this is what it’s all about — delivering something that genuinely makes a difference when people return to their practice.
What’s Next
I’m really looking forward to delivering the next dates in Winchester and Milton Keynes for Practice Plan members.
Each session builds on the last, and it is exciting to see this programme growing and supporting more practices across the UK.
Want Support with Your Leadership?
If you’re looking to strengthen your leadership, develop your team, or bring more structure and strategy into your practice, I would love to support you.
This is just the start, I will be sharing more insights, tools and ideas through future blogs to help you continue developing.
Michael Bentley
Dental Consultant & Speaker