Coaching can help doctors walk the fine lines of standardisation and customisation

April 21, 2026 Published by Sharee Johnson

Last month I wrote about the regulation and accreditation structures that are around doctors to ensure safe medical practice for us all (in Australia).  That article considered the implications for specialist medical services in our regions. 

One of the consequences of lots of regulation in medicine is a complex and bureaucratic landscape.  Changes or decisions are usually slow, there are many points in the system for decisions to get stuck and many stakeholders that want a say. The various decision makers have divided attention and there is less flexibility. Matters tend to be standardised rather than customised.  (There are benefits and consequences for both frames)

Doctors who ‘grow up’ within a heavily regulated, standardised environment can lose their creativity and curiosity in this kind of environment. It is safer to stick to the rules. 

While we want standardised to be the prevailing mindset and culture when it comes to patient safety, in the main, we also need to recognise that it is a limiting factor when it comes to finding novel ways to solve problems or sticking points. These standardised, regulated environments reward the status quo, and stifle innovation. 

The result is highly intelligent people, who think of themselves as independent thinkers with autonomy, not being all that creative and sometimes becoming frustrated, rigid or burned out due to a sense of helplessness. 

Coaching is such a beneficial process in these environments because it helps people see what they cannot see, when they are in the thick of the system. Coaching can help doctors walk the fine lines of standardisation and customisation, required for truly exceptional medicine and medical leadership.

A doctor who is seeking a new process, who wants to test an idea out loud, develop a focused way forward that can be activated in their particular environment, who wants to think about how they can find allies or mentors, can work through these questions without fear or shame in coaching.  Leading to more productivity, fulfilment and/or better care of patients.

Last month I wrote about the regulation and accreditation structures : https://www.coachingfordoctors.net.au/providing-medical-training-regional-australia/

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The Thriving Doctor

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Sharee Johnson’s book The Thriving Doctor is available in all good bookstores or online.

Sharee has been coaching doctors since 2014, find out more about her work