Tag Archive: The Thriving Doctor

Language is a tricky thing. Sometimes we mean what we say and sometimes it’s something else all together.  Interpretation, guessing, approximations, social norms, perspectives, biases are all active in our conversations. In the words we use, in the way we use the words. As if that wasn’t enough to create confusion, in a domain like […]

What do you hang on to when times are dark, confusing, when the world is uncertain?  Healthcare certainly generates feelings of despondency and hopelessness for many healthcare workers. Dr Joanna Macy was a Buddhist scholar, environmental activist, author and teacher. She recognised long term action was required in the face of nuclear waste in the […]

Listening is an under rated skill in human communication. Doctors, psychologists and many other clinicians assume themselves to be good active listeners, the evidence is not so partisan.  There is research for example showing that doctors interrupt their patients after a median of 11 seconds. In the leadership literature there is research to show that the […]

How do doctors receive feedback that truly makes a difference to their performance? The real likelihood of doctors receiving good developmental feedback about how they interact with others, about their professional or leadership behaviours, or their future goals is low. The many groups doctors interact with have different vested interests, meaning their feedback prioritises different […]

What are your top priorities and how do you action them?  Maybe one priority is to do work that is satisfying and fulfilling.How do you measure such a priority? How do you know if you are succeeding? What is a satisfying or fulfilling work life?  What factors need to be present, and how often? Derek Sivers said […]

Doctors take pride in being independent thinkers. Our system requires them to be and trains them to be. Doctors are the decision makers, the leaders, that’s what we all believe right? Does that mean that you, as a doctor, are less likely to ask for help than other professionals? Perhaps. Most adults want autonomy and […]

Every doctor I have coached has been a high achiever to be practicing medicine. Many would not describe themselves that way when they arrive at coaching, despite the evidence on their CV. Blame imposter phenomenon, perfectionism, burnout, the system. They are demoralised or conflicted, lacking clarity about their future in medicine. Even those who are […]