The Framework for a Powerhouse Team

In Episode 3 of the Seven Figure Chiro Podcast, Dr. Jeff Berard and Kristin Berard discuss one of the most critical aspects of business success—building a powerhouse team. They explain how assembling the right people and fostering a collaborative, results-driven culture can help chiropractic clinics achieve their goals, including their BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal).

Here’s a breakdown of the episode’s key insights and actionable strategies.

Dr. Berard opens by emphasizing the importance of the Hedgehog Concept—finding the intersection of:

• Passion
• What you can be the best at
• Your economic driver

This sweet spot provides a focus for all business decisions. After establishing this foundation, the next step is building a team capable of achieving your goals, including your BHAG—a bold, ambitious objective that unites and inspires your organization.

To build a great team, be rigorous in your hiring and management decisions, but not ruthless. Dr. Berard highlights four practical disciplines for making people decisions:

• When in doubt, don’t hire. If there’s uncertainty about a candidate, don’t proceed. Look for people who excel in their roles and align with your vision.
• Act immediately when a change is needed. Don’t delay making tough decisions. If someone isn’t the right fit, address it quickly.
• Put your best people on your biggest opportunities. Focus your top performers on high-impact areas, not just solving problems.
• Encourage rigorous debate, but unify behind decisions. Healthy debate leads to better decisions, but the team must align once a decision is made.

Inspired by Jim Collins’ Good to Great, Dr. Berard stresses the importance of having the right people in the right seats:

• Evaluate roles and responsibilities. Ensure each team member excels in their position.
• Eliminate "dead weight." Quickly remove individuals who don’t contribute to the team’s success or mission.

Dr. Berard and Kristin emphasize the value of creating a supportive yet performance-driven culture. A high-performing team isn’t just nice—they’re productive.

Dr. Berard introduces the concept of the visionary and integrator, two critical roles in any successful organization:

• Visionary: Responsible for big ideas, innovation, and long-term goals.
• Integrator: The person who turns ideas into actionable plans and ensures smooth execution.

Kristin elaborates on their partnership, highlighting how their complementary roles—Jeff as the visionary and Kristin as the integrator—help their clinic succeed. She emphasizes the importance of hiring or assigning team members to fill these roles effectively.

Avoid rushed hires driven by desperation. Take time to find the right fit, even if it means waiting longer. As Kristin notes, the right person will come along at the right time if you’re patient and persistent.

During interviews, Dr. Berard is brutally honest about the challenges and expectations of the role, ensuring candidates fully understand the demands.

• Conduct 30-day and 80-day reviews to ensure new hires are meeting expectations.
• Hold six-month or annual evaluations to align on goals and provide feedback.

By helping team members achieve their personal and professional goals, businesses foster loyalty and high performance.

Once your powerhouse team is in place, it’s time to define and pursue your BHAG. For the Berards, their BHAG is to become the most trusted and respected chiropractic clinic, with a revenue goal of $5 million by 2030. This ambitious vision unites their team and motivates them to deliver exceptional results.

Dr. Jeff and Kristin conclude with these reminders:

• Be rigorous but kind in people decisions.
• Build a culture of debate and collaboration.
• Pair visionary thinking with integrative execution.
• Regularly revisit your Hedgehog Concept and align your team around your BHAG.

As Dr. Berard says, “Your team’s passion for the ‘why’ behind your goals will drive them to succeed—not just for you, but for the shared vision of greatness.”

For more insights on team building and achieving chiropractic business success, visit SevenFigureChiro.com and tune in to the next episode of the Seven Figure Chiro Podcast.