Every January, most dentists fall into one of two camps:
Camp 1: “NEW YEAR, NEW ME, NEW PRACTICE. I WILL DO ALL THE THINGS.”
Camp 2: “If one more person mentions dental practice goal setting, I am throwing my planner into the nearest snowbank.”
Whichever camp you’re in… you’re normal.
Goal setting can feel exciting, empowering, overwhelming, or downright impossible — sometimes all in the same afternoon.
As women dentists, we’re used to carrying all the weight: the clinical load, the leadership load, the emotional load, and the “everyone asks me everything” load.
So when you sit down to plan a new year, it’s very easy to fall into the trap of:
- “I’m going to fix EVERYTHING this year.”
- “I’m changing my culture, my schedule, my systems, my fees, my leadership, and also I will grow 30%.”
- “I’m basically becoming Beyoncé of Dentistry by March.”
And then?
Overwhelm.
Freeze.
Nothing changes.
Cue the self-judgment soundtrack.
But good news: Goal setting does NOT have to feel like self-induced torture.
There is a simple, strategic, doable way to plan your year — even if your brain loves chaos, change, and 27 simultaneous projects.
Today, we’re diving into the Signature HDJS Goal-Setting Process — the exact framework Jen uses in her own practices and coaching programs, and the one that has helped her consistently hit goals, grow her practice, and stay sane.
Let’s get you set up for a powerful, intentional, wildly successful 2026.
| Topic | What Women Dentists Should Know |
| Number of goals | Choose only 1–3 goals at a time; don’t add new ones until one is completed |
| Groundhog Day review | Look at 2025 data before setting 2026 goals — KPIs, growth, wins, failures |
| Data-driven decisions | Use actual numbers, not feelings, to choose goals and measure progress |
| Stretch goals | Goals should push you slightly beyond comfort but still be realistic |
| Break goals down | Convert annual goals into monthly, weekly, and daily targets |
| Track consistently | Weekly tracking dramatically increases your chance of success |
| Tell someone | Sharing your goals boosts completion rates by 75% |
| Fail forward | Expect trial and error; refine and adjust until it works |
| Self-kindness | No self-bullying — goals can evolve, shift, or be reset |
THE HDJS RULE: Only 1–3 Goals. EVER.
This is the biggest mistake women dentists make:
Too many goals. Too much pressure. Too little capacity.
Your brain cannot move 12 mountains at once.
But it can move one.
Maybe two.
Three if you’re feeling spicy.
So here’s the rule:
👉 Choose ONE to THREE goals for 2026. No more. No exceptions.
And even better:
👉 You cannot add another goal until one of these is completed.
If Goal #1 is a 12-month goal?
That’s it. You’re done. No adding new “fun little goals” in April because you got bored.
This ONE discipline will change your life.
Before You Set Goals for 2026, You MUST Do a “Groundhog Day” on 2025
This is one of Jen’s favorite exercises — and one of the most important parts of dental practice goal setting.
A Groundhog Day is simply:
A full review of last year — everything you tried, everything you tracked, everything that worked, everything that flopped.
Pull your reports.
Look at KPIs.
Analyze new patient flow.
Review your referral patterns.
Check your collections, production, and overhead. (Not sure what healthy looks like? This post on understanding dental practice overhead breaks it all down.)
Look at what initiatives moved the needle… and which ones wasted your time, energy, or money.
Here’s why this matters:
💥 You can’t set intelligent goals for 2026 if you don’t understand your actual 2025.
Women dentists often lead with emotion — “I feel like the year wasn’t great” or “I think we grew” — but feelings aren’t data.
If you want to grow, scale, or change something?
You need facts.
Data.
The truth.
That’s how you make grounded decisions instead of reactive ones.
Choose Goals That Actually Matter (Not Goals That Sound Cute)
Your goals should feel:
- meaningful
- exciting
- slightly uncomfortable (stretch goals!)
- relevant to your lived reality
- deeply aligned with the practice you want
Ask yourself:
- “What would make the biggest difference in how I feel coming to work every day?”
- “What would make my life easier?”
- “What would make my practice healthier?”
- “What would help my patients more?”
- “What would help my team function at a higher level?”
Some examples of powerful 2026 goals:
- Reduce drama and create a healthy culture
- Improve new patient experience
- Increase profitability by 25%
- Add 2 new profitable procedures
- Reduce cancellations and no-shows by 50%
- Build leadership skills
- Hire key team members you’ve been avoiding
- Become the go-to office for a specific service
Your goals do not have to be about revenue — but they do have to be about impact.
Not sure where to focus first? My dental practice growth strategies guide maps out the five pillars that drive the most meaningful growth — it’s a strong starting point for deciding where to aim.
Make Your Goals Measurable and Based on Data
No more “I want to grow.”
No more “I want more patients.”
No more “I want a better culture.”
Those aren’t goals.
Those are vibes.
Real goals have numbers, metrics, and clarity.
Examples:
- “Grow by 30% revenue over 12 months.”
- “Add 10 implant cases per month.”
- “Improve treatment conversion from 68% to 80%.”
- “Reduce hygiene cancellations from 14% to 8%.”
- “Cut supply costs by 10%.”
Without measurable data… you’re guessing.
And guessing does not create results.
Your goals must be SMART.
Break Your Goal Into Micro-Targets
If your goal is $1.3M in collections in 2026, you need to know:
- Monthly target
- Weekly target
- Daily target
- Hourly production needs
- Which procedures will get you there
- How many more of those procedures you need
- What acquisition methods will support that increase
Filling your dental schedule to hit goals is one of the most concrete levers for hitting those daily and weekly targets — that post breaks down exactly how to make it happen.
Your goal must be broken down until it becomes a clear, repeatable action plan.
If your goal is culture-based (and not strictly measurable)?
Break it down into behavioral shifts:
- Weekly 1:1 check-ins
- Daily positive feedback moments
- Quarterly culture reviews
- Monthly expectation resets
- Formal accountability system
A goal without a breakdown is just a wish.
Track Your Progress Weekly (Not Randomly)
This is where 99% of dentists fail at goal setting.
Tracking is the difference between:
❌ “I hope this works”
vs.
✔️ “I know exactly what’s working, what’s not, and what to adjust.”
What you track improves.
What you ignore collapses.
Make tracking part of your leadership rhythm.
Tell Someone Your Goals (This Increase Success by 75%!)
This is backed by behavioral psychology:
👉 When you write down your goal AND tell someone about it, you are 75% more likely to achieve it.
Tell your spouse.
Tell your team.
Tell your coach.
Tell your mastermind.
Tell your friend who refuses to let you shrink.
Accountability is not pressure — it’s support.
Expect Failure (and Celebrate It)
You will fail before you succeed.
You will try things that don’t work.
You will try strategies that flop.
You will make changes that don’t move the needle.
You will experiment, adjust, repeat.
Failure is simply information.
The only people who don’t hit goals?
The ones who quit when Plan A doesn’t work.
You’re going to learn, refine, pivot, try again, and show up differently.
That’s leadership.
Protect Your Energy: No Self-Bullying Allowed
Women dentists are exceptionally good at:
- running practices
- caring for people
- managing emotions
- multitasking
- getting things done
… and also being complete jerks to themselves when they “fall short.”
Let’s stop this in 2026.
You’re allowed to:
- change your goals
- adjust timelines
- start over
- rest
- ask for help
- pivot when something doesn’t feel right
- decide something is no longer important
You’re the CEO of your practice — and your life.
Your goals are meant to serve you, not punish you.
Looking for help to create or reach your goals? Book a free strategy call with Jen anytime!
Before your call, take the dental practice success check-up — it gives you (and me) a much clearer picture of exactly where to focus.
