183. The Hardest Part of Leadership: Outgrowing Team Members
Mon Feb 02 2026
Do you find yourself holding on to team members longer than you should, avoiding hard conversations, or carrying the emotional weight of leadership decisions home with you? For many practice owners, letting go of an employee or associate isn’t about conflict—it’s about growth. As practices evolve, not everyone can grow at the same pace, and knowing when to make a change is one of the hardest (and most important) leadership skills to develop.
In this episode of the Millennial Dentist Podcast, Dr. Sully Sullivan shares a raw, honest look at outgrowing team members, moving people into the right roles, and ultimately making the tough call to part ways when it’s best for both the individual and the practice.
Hit play now!
@04:22 – “Seats on the bus”: adapting roles as your practice grows
@10:19 – Casualties of growth and setting clear expectations
@15:16 – How to handle letting someone go with respect
@22:13 – Moving forward after tough decisions and supporting your team
Who is Dr. Sully Sullivan?
Dr. Sully is a fourth-generation dentist from Nashville, Tn. After receiving his doctorate of dental surgery from the University of Tennessee, he moved back to Nashville to practice with his father. By continuing to invest in his education through adult orthodontics, soft tissue grafting, dental implants, third molar extractions, and obstructive sleep apnea, he helped double his practice in just 24 months.
As a millennial, he truly believes in working smarter not harder, which has led him to utilize technology to not only deliver better patient care but more efficient care. Dr. Sullivan regularly uses CEREC, 3D imaging with Galileos, 3D printing, and multiple lasers. In addition to his practice, he started the Millennial Dentist Podcast in February of 2017 to help push his fellow colleagues to take their dental careers to the next level. Dr. Sully lectures around the country on cone beam technology, cad/cam dentistry, obstructive sleep apnea, and practice management. He is also an ambassador for the 3D-Dentist teaching facility in Raleigh, NC.
As always, thanks so much for listening! If you like the show, we would love for you to review the show on Apple Podcasts as well as spread the word! If you have any questions or want to get in touch, shoot me an email at millennialdentist@gmail.com
Links and Resources
Email: MillennialDentist@gmail.com
The Millennial Dentist Website: http://millennialdentist.com/
Millennial Dentist Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/MillennialDentist
Millennial Dentist Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/millennialdentist/
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Do you find yourself holding on to team members longer than you should, avoiding hard conversations, or carrying the emotional weight of leadership decisions home with you? For many practice owners, letting go of an employee or associate isn’t about conflict—it’s about growth. As practices evolve, not everyone can grow at the same pace, and knowing when to make a change is one of the hardest (and most important) leadership skills to develop. In this episode of the Millennial Dentist Podcast, Dr. Sully Sullivan shares a raw, honest look at outgrowing team members, moving people into the right roles, and ultimately making the tough call to part ways when it’s best for both the individual and the practice. Hit play now! @04:22 – “Seats on the bus”: adapting roles as your practice grows @10:19 – Casualties of growth and setting clear expectations @15:16 – How to handle letting someone go with respect @22:13 – Moving forward after tough decisions and supporting your team Who is Dr. Sully Sullivan? Dr. Sully is a fourth-generation dentist from Nashville, Tn. After receiving his doctorate of dental surgery from the University of Tennessee, he moved back to Nashville to practice with his father. By continuing to invest in his education through adult orthodontics, soft tissue grafting, dental implants, third molar extractions, and obstructive sleep apnea, he helped double his practice in just 24 months. As a millennial, he truly believes in working smarter not harder, which has led him to utilize technology to not only deliver better patient care but more efficient care. Dr. Sullivan regularly uses CEREC, 3D imaging with Galileos, 3D printing, and multiple lasers. In addition to his practice, he started the Millennial Dentist Podcast in February of 2017 to help push his fellow colleagues to take their dental careers to the next level. Dr. Sully lectures around the country on cone beam technology, cad/cam dentistry, obstructive sleep apnea, and practice management. He is also an ambassador for the 3D-Dentist teaching facility in Raleigh, NC. As always, thanks so much for listening! If you like the show, we would love for you to review the show on Apple Podcasts as well as spread the word! If you have any questions or want to get in touch, shoot me an email at millennialdentist@gmail.com Links and Resources Email: MillennialDentist@gmail.com The Millennial Dentist Website: http://millennialdentist.com/ Millennial Dentist Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/MillennialDentist Millennial Dentist Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/millennialdentist/