I want to start this blog with the story of “The Goose that Laid the Golden Eggs.” Many of us are familiar with this story. It revolves around a farmer who finds a Goose, which lays one golden egg per day. The farmer was initially happy but grew greedy over time. He thought of all the lumps of gold that could be inside the goose. One day the farmer kills the goose and finds no gold inside it.
Medical practice is like the goose; it continuously rewards you with the golden eggs. Golden eggs here are not just material wealth but also social status, community esteem, the joy of healing, satisfaction, and job security. You are the farmer and should protect your goose from external as well as internal threats. Some habits are toxic and should be actively avoided to protect your goose. If not followed, these habits will slowly but surely destroy your career.
So here are some of the habits to be avoided-
Toxic gossips
Though it is painful, we have to accept that this is relatively common in all professions, and the medical field is no exception. This can range from trivial gossips to downright false allegations. Defaming another practitioner in front of colleagues or patients may satisfy your ego in the short term. But sooner or later, what you speak will reach your colleague. It creates a cycle of mistrust and hostility propagating itself. Even other practitioners will try to distance themselves from you. Because they will wonder what you will speak about them in their absence.
This habit can be broken by transparency and openness. If you are not satisfied with the treatment directly call and ask is there any reason why this treatment was started? We will never know unless we step into their shoes.
“blowing out someone’s candle doesn’t make yours shine brighter”.
wanting to change someone
Patients tend to come to us with fixed cultural beliefs engraved into their minds over long periods. We expect their mindset to change in one hospital visit, which is utterly impossible. Some of them will believe in alternative medical systems, which most of the doctors tend to brush aside.
We may also tend to change our fellow doctor’s beliefs. Despite all beliefs, medicine is a very subjective science, opinions, and lines of management tend to vary from one another. As told before, step into their shoes and listen to their perspective. This habit can be overcome by not arguing with either your patients or fellow doctors. Your brilliance lies in overcoming these challenges in a creative way.
“You can’t win an argument. You can’t because if you lose it, you lose it, and if you win it, you lose it.”
Dale Carnegie
Not spending time for yourself
I remember when a senior doctor told his regret of not spending enough time with his son and almost broke down in tears. It is an all too common occurrence in our profession. Skipping meals, sleep deprivation, chronic stress, and long work hours are all part of our job, and we accept it with pride. But this will take a toll on your body emotionally, physically, and mentally. We can see the trend of increased burnout and decreased life expectancy among doctors.
So, manage time effectively, have a designated personal time to spend on yourself and your family. Meditate, stay physically fit, develop a hobby, take a vacation, meet your friends. At the end of the day, the love of family is more important than all the wealth and privilege. Besides, what will the golden egg be used if there is no farmer?
Anger and irritation at your team
There is a strict hierarchy in medicine, especially during the period of learning in medical college. We cannot even dream of questioning the authority for fear of consequences on our career. Interns at the bottom of the medical food chain face the brunt of the impact and tend to repeat the behavior. The sense of pride and entitlement only grows as we climb up the medical ranks.
Even though the doctor is the captain of the ship, we have to realize that it cannot run without its crew. Everyone, be it intern, nurse, or sanitary workers have a crucial role which cannot be substituted. Do not act arrogantly with them just because you can get away with it. The least you can do for your team is be appreciative. Compliment them at every occasion possible and give credit for your team where they deserve.
“praise in public and criticize in private”
Micromanaging
The scenario in a hospital is very dynamic, and decisions have to be made in real-time in many instances. Taking all the decisions, every time is beyond human capability. It can result in either burnout and making wrong decisions. Train your team to deal with contingencies, give them the freedom and authority to make such decisions.
But establishing clear boundaries within which they can operate. The right proportion of freedom and control can lead to better outcomes in care. It is not restricted to the treatment of patients but also other parts of the spectrum like scheduling, financial management, and patient interaction.
As a concluding remark “If you want more golden eggs don’t kill the goose, just find a second goose”
This blog is based on my personal experience, and any suggestions would be appreciated.
checkout my other blog “WHAT SOCIAL SKILLS THAT EVERY MEDICAL STUDENT MUST KNOW, BUT ARE NOT TAUGHT IN MEDICAL COLLEGE?”
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