Why 2020 is the “Great Reset” for physician careers (and how not to miss out!)

Closing The Gap Blog – September 2020

Psychologists have begun to refer to 2020 as the “Great Reset.”

There is nothing like a crisis to bring who and what is important to us into sharp focus. As a result, many of us are re-thinking how we are living our lives as physicians. We are asking the big questions, like “What do I really want from my life – professional and personally – moving forward?”

Combine this with the stress and chaos of practicing medicine that already existed prior to COVID, and you have the perfect catalyst for large numbers of physicians seeking meaningful change. 

But the real question is how do you answer the call? You know the status quo cannot continue, but what do you actually do next, after that realization? What do you do when full-time clinical medicine is not giving you the fulfillment you expect in exchange for your incredible hard work? How do find work-life balance as an adult with a life full of responsibilities beyond your patients? How do you acquire the skills not taught in medical school, such as leadership, that are necessary for you to get to the next level? What else can you do with your education and experience?

Some physicians will try to find mentors, others will frantically search the internet for opportunities. But many physicians have found that the most effective next step is working with a physician career coach.

Long used in the executive world, coaching is a powerful tool for professional development. Coaches are trained in evidence-based techniques to help you more effectively grow and navigate change, with less stress during the process. As a result, physician coaching has emerged as the go-to resource for navigating the incredible challenges and opportunities that COVID presents.

A physician coach can be a critical ally so that you don’t miss out on putting this time to ts best use. Here are the four ways a physician coach is most likely to help you:

A physician coach can you help figure out exactly what needs to change – It’s one thing to have a sense that things could be better, but another altogether to figure out exactly what needs to change. Many physicians spend too much time focusing on what’s not working. They can get stuck in their own heads trying to figure out if they need to make change where they are at, need a new employer, or need to transition to a non-clinical career.

Coaches are expert in helping you make sense of it all. They bring a structured process for rapidly identifying where the friction points are, and what is possible moving forward. More importantly, they aren’t beholden to your employer or your patient base; rather, they serve you. Their sole function is to help you leverage your strengths and values to create a meaningful vision for where you want to go. They will also help you identify tangible action for executing that vision.

A physician coach knows your options – An experienced coach has worked with many physicians in situations similar to yours. They have seen what has worked, and what has not. Having seen it all, they can help you identify what is possible given the unique aspects of your situation.

Furthermore, they know the whole gamut of non-clinical opportunities available and how to execute those transitions. They can help you craft a portfolio career – where clinical medicine is just a part of what you do – or help you transition out of clinical medicine entirely.

A physician coach will help you see the blind spots and habits of mind getting that are holding you back – Becoming a physician is a unique experience. It requires a certain mindset and survival skills to navigate the gauntlet of medical training. Delaying gratification, endless conscientiousness, and pushing harder and faster than anyone else are just a few tools that we have learned to lean on. Unfortunately, those tools and that approach may have served you well in getting here, but they are not going to get you to where you want to go. They will just make you more likely to accept the status quo and burn you out.

Instead, creating a long and fulfilling career as a physician often requires learning a new set of rules for what is possible and how to go about making change. A physician coach can help you identify which rules and mindsets are working against you, and offer an alternative worldview.

A physician coach will hold you accountable to your vision – Change requires energy and time – two things physicians have precious little of. Transition is difficult, and most physicians will lose their momentum without a structure and process. Just when a physician commits to his or herself that things must change, that little voice speaks up saying “Why not wait just a little bit longer, things might get better.” A good coach will help you fight the inertia, and serves as both cheerleader and accountability partner helping you remain proactive in the meaningful change you seek.

As physicians, we are at a critical juncture. We can either keep our head down, put one foot and front of the other, and plow through until things return to “normal.” Or we can put this challenging time to its best use, and create a new normal on our own terms.

If you are ready to have a “Great Reset” of your own, feel free to explore our website and schedule an introductory coaching session so that we can begin the work of making your career more authentic and fulfilling!