Plant Yourself Where You Can Grow
Throughout my years in dentistry, I have had the privilege of working alongside extraordinary teams—and a few that taught me growth in different ways.
What I have come to understand is this: not every practice is the right soil for your roots. To truly flourish, you must find an environment that offers the right balance of nourishment, support, and light. When you plant yourself in a practice that provides the “fertilizer” you need, you do not just survive—you thrive and bloom in your career.
Growth does not happen by accident; it happens in an environment. Anyone who has tried to grow a gardenia knows it isn’t a “set it and forget it” plant. Gardenias require the right soil acidity, consistent watering, proper sunlight, and protection from harsh conditions. Place them in the wrong environment, and they struggle, turn yellow, and refuse to bloom.
A dental practice is no different. Team members cannot thrive in soil depleted by poor communication, inconsistent leadership, or unclear expectations. Just as a gardenia needs nutrient-rich soil and attentive care, a dental practice needs psychological safety, structured systems, accountability, and encouragement. When the environment is healthy, growth is not forced—it happens naturally.
Consider the orchid—exquisite, rare, and notoriously difficult to grow. Orchids do not respond well to neglect, yet they also wilt under heavy-handed care. They require balance, patience, and an understanding of their unique needs.
Leadership is much the same. I once worked with a young doctor whose clinical skills were impressive, but whose leadership skills were still developing. In moments of stress, he spoke down to team members- correcting them publicly, dismissing their ideas, and unintentionally minimizing their experiences.
Over time, I watched capable assistants and front desk team members begin to shrink. Their confidence faded, initiative disappeared, and passion dulled. Like an orchid placed in the wrong conditions, they did not fail because they lacked ability—they failed because their environment no longer supported growth.
Growing Leadership
When leaders value growth and not just production, they protect experience. They understand that tone, respect, and encouragement are not “soft skills” but essential nutrients. When people feel seen and valued, they bloom in ways that elevate the entire team.
Think about the bonsai tree. To the untrained eye, it may seem small and slow-growing, but every curve, every branch, and every detail is the result of years of intentional cultivation. Bonsai requires patience, investment, and faith that growth is worth the time it takes.
I once worked with a doctor who did not share my same beliefs about professional development. After finding a flyer for a local AADOM study club meeting, I expressed my interest in attending to expand my leadership and administrative skills. It was dismissed as a waste of time and money. In their view, if it did not immediately impact production, it held little value.
But growth, like the bonsai, cannot be rushed—and it cannot flourish without support.
Leading is a Trained Skill
When leaders withhold learning opportunities, they unintentionally stunt the very people capable of elevating the practice. Strong leadership recognizes that continuing education is not an expense—it is cultivation.
When you invest in your team’s knowledge and experience, you shape future leaders, strengthen systems, and create a practice that can adapt and thrive.
Just as a bonsai’s beauty is revealed through years of thoughtful care, so too is the excellence of a team that has been intentionally developed.
The peace lily has a reputation for being sensitive—quick to show signs of stress when neglected or deprived of attention. Its leaves droop and fade without consistent care but lift again with the right light, water, and stability. In the right environment, with patient tending, it grows lush and vibrant, becoming a striking presence in any space.
Last year, I paid my own way to attend the AADOM conference—with no assistance from my doctor—to earn my Fellowship distinction. It required sacrifice, commitment, and belief in my long-term growth. When I returned, energized and ready to share what I had learned, I was met with the disheartening question: “What’s the point in doing all that?”
That moment revealed that I was in the wrong place. It exposed something deeper about the office culture—growth had not been normalized, and advancement was not championed. Growth was not valued; it was discouraged.
Just as a peace lily droops in a neglected corner, professional growth cannot flourish in a practice where learning is not visibly valued. Leadership makes growth possible by celebrating development, sharing vision, and reinforcing how education strengthens the entire team.
When leaders actively support and fund continuing education, recognize achievements, and connect personal growth with practice success, they create an environment where improvement becomes contagious. Under that kind of leadership, growth is no longer questioned—it’s expected.
Grow and Go!
Whether it is a gardenia that needs the right soil, an orchid that requires careful balance, a bonsai shaped through intentional investment, or a peace lily that thrives on consistent care—the lesson is the same: Growth is never accidental; it is cultivated.
In a dental practice, culture is the soil, leadership is the gardener, and people are the living potential waiting to bloom. When growth is valued, continuing education is supported, experience is respected, and encouragement replaces criticism, something extraordinary happens. Confidence rises, passion returns, and excellence becomes sustainable.
In the right environment—where growth is expected, supported, and possible—leaders do not just improve production; they elevate others. And when people are elevated, they bloom in ways that transform themselves, those around them, and the entire team.
About the Author
Phyllis Oakes, FAADOM
Phyllis is the Treatment Plan Coordinator at Amelia Dental Group in Fernandina Beach, Florida. With more than 20 years in the dental field, she’s done just about everything—from assisting chairside to managing insurance and coordinating treatment.
Phyllis earned her Fellowship with the American Association of Dental Office Management (FAADOM) in 2025 and loves sharing her passion for teamwork, learning, and creating the best possible experience for every patient who walks through the door.
