1009: Metric Mondays: Leading vs Lagging Indicators, What You Need to Know

Many dental practices feel surprised by their numbers at the end of the month, even when they review reports regularly. In this episode, Kirk Behrendt sits down with Miranda Beeson, leadership coach at ACT Dental, to explain the difference between leading and lagging indicators and why relying too heavily on historical data creates stress, reactivity, and missed opportunities. They break down how leading indicators connect daily behaviors to long-term results, how to spot problems earlier, and how to use data to lead calmly instead of reactively. If you want to understand which numbers actually help you influence outcomes before it’s too late, listen to Episode 1009 of The Best Practices Show!

Main Takeaways

1. Lagging indicators show what has already happened in a practice and cannot be changed once reported.
2. Leading indicators help predict future outcomes and guide daily and weekly behavior.
3. Practices that focus only on lagging indicators often feel blindsided and become reactive under pressure.
4. Tracking leading indicators weekly allows leaders to correct course before the end of the month.
5. Hygiene reappointment, diagnostic percentage, and case acceptance are examples of leading indicators that influence production.
6. Teams engage more effectively when they understand which daily actions influence practice results.

Snippets

1. 00:52 Leading indicators versus lagging indicators and why both matter.
2. 02:28 Why lagging indicators create reactive leadership and team stress.
3. 03:50 Using hygiene metrics to predict future production.
4. 06:11 Planning ahead for known schedule disruptions like holidays.
5. 07:38 What it looks like when practices rely only on lagging indicators.
6. 09:42 How leadership changes when leading indicators are used correctly.
7. 11:39 Tracking diagnostic percentage and case acceptance week over week.
8. 14:47 A simple first step to start using leading indicators today.

Guest Bio/Guest Resources

Miranda Beeson has over 25 years of clinical dental hygiene, front office, practice administration, and speaking experience. She is enthusiastic about communication and loves helping others find the power that words can bring to their patient interactions and practice dynamics. As a Lead Practice Coach, she is driven to create opportunities to find value in experiences and cultivate new approaches.

Miranda graduated from Old Dominion University and enjoys spending time with her husband, Chuck, and her children, Trent, Mallory, and Cassidy. Family time is the best time, and is often spent on a golf course, a volleyball court, or spending the day boating at the beach.

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

1. The Best Practices Show: https://www.actdental.com/podcast/
2. Best Practices Association: https://www.actdental.com/bpa
3. Upcoming Events & Workshops: https://www.actdental.com/events/
4. Smile Source: https://www.smilesource.com/
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