Research bears this out. Skills important for physician leadership include managing the team, creating a vision, and communication. These are even among the required Core Competencies for Entering Medical Students. Yet, regretfully, the teaching of these Competencies may not be connected to the implementations, nor to the demonstrations, by the attending physicians who work with medical students from the clinical side. In other words, book learning isn’t always congruent with on the job training.
Asymmetric Growths: Technical Focus Over Personal Growth
Where might we as physicians differ from non-physicians? In social skills we may be developmentally delayed. We focus on getting excellent grades at university so we are accepted into medical school. We then have to learn a new language in a year or two while we’re meeting patients, introducing ourselves as “Doctor” and feeling inadequate (there’s that Imposter Syndrome again!). When we are fully fledged doctors we jump directly into practicing medicine – into being the Expert – without having time to experience what it’s like outside medicine.
During this time many of our non-physician colleagues are feeding us their admiration, whether real or acted. This external affirmation can combine with Imposter Syndrome in a toxic mix of arrogance and insecurity.
And then there’s general Emotional Intelligence. Physicians may be deeply focused on understanding others in terms of making a diagnosis, but often not as relates to managing the relationships between patients and physicians. We may not have nuanced understandings of ourselves, nor understandings of how to manage our emotions and interactions with others. The authors of one article interviewed ten randomly selected department chairs and observed the following.
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Patrick Williams
April 15, 2015 at 6:35 am
Dr. Cary has written here , a truth telling article about the unique challenges of physicians…..of whom we know so little and judge so often. Dr. Cary’s, background as a physician, and now as a caring leadership coach, allows perfect insight into seeing physicians in a leadership role and using the essentials of coaching. This article is a great example of the keys to differentiating Technical leadership versus Adaptive leadership. There are few professions that require skillful adaptive decision making and leadership than being a physician and Dr. Cary in this article offers great insight and guidance.
Elaine Holmes, M.D.
April 16, 2015 at 9:07 am
Very interesting, honest, and well written
Catherine Robinson-Walker
April 19, 2015 at 11:12 pm
Well said, Maggi. This is an important, honest article that touches on much of what isn’t working in the healthcare system today. Thank you, Dr. Cary!
PS. I have written about the imposter syndrome in healthcare, too. However, your weighing in as a physician adds important dimension. Thank you!