Doctors at Work Mat Daniel

In this episode, Manjiri tells me how she became Head of School. We talk about the importance of role models in career planning, and discuss how as doctors we often have a very narrow view of the skills that we have. We discuss how some people have a tendency to talk themselves out of going for roles, and of the importance of confronting the fear that we have and consider what are the worst and best things that can happen. Manjiri tells me how one opportunity often leads to another, and that's it's important to have a mindset that looks for opportunities, development, and growth.

You can also watch on www.youtube.com/@dr-coach/videos.
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How do you make career decisions? Our careers are never static, they change, we change, and the world around us changes. In this episode, Fiona Setch and I discuss our own career decisions, and identify the importance of doing moves that take you towards your desired future, rather than moves aimed at escaping the current challenges. The key to dealing with career dissatisfaction and critical incidents is then to identify what it is that you want, and to take your life and career in that direction. This might not mean large moves, sometimes small adjustments can help, as can conscious focus on what you enjoy about your current role.

Fiona Setch is a coach. You can find her at https://www.linkedin.com/in/fiona-setch-3540a0a/

If you liked this episode you might also enjoy episode 72 on career reinvention after 50, episode 70 in mid career reinvention, 66 on career decisions, 53  and 46 on life balance, episode 23 which contains my tips for making career decisions, and episode 38 and 9 that talk about career coaching.

You can also watch at www.youtube.com/@dr-coach/videos.
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Ellen Welch is a GP and a book author, and has had a variety of different roles in the past. In this episode we discuss portfolio careers. She outlines how she has reinvented herself multiple times, based on what she wanted and on how work fitted into the rest of her life. She outlines how being flexible is a real asset, even if flexible careers have both up and downsides. Making decent income from portfolio careers might not be easy, but as doctors we should always remember the value that we bring and the skills that we have. I love her can-do mindset, instead of moping about what is wrong, she has repeatedly gone out and made her desired future happen based on what she wants.

Ellen is an NHS GP and writer based in Cumbria. With 20 years clinical experience, she has pursued a variety of portfolio roles worldwide, including stints as a a ski field doctor in New Zealand, an expedition medic in Tanzania and a Cruise Ship Doctor and repatriation doctor around the world. She holds a BA in medical journalism and has pursued her interest in writing alongside her clinical career. She has written  several books and has been published widely in both trade and National press. She has also appeared on TV and Radio in her previous role as co-chair for the Doctors’ Association UK. Her latest book “Why Can’t I See My GP: the past, present and future of General Practice” was released in February 2024. Find out more about her at https://linktr.ee/DrEllenWelch

You might also like Episode 81 on how to define career success, 77 on a career in General Practice, 66 on making career decisions, and 65 on portfolio careers.

Watch at www.youtube.com/@dr-coach/videos. 
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Careers in medicine are rewarding, and at the same time full of stresses. In this episode, Matthew Fuller and I discuss how to manage challenging situations at work. Matthew tells me that it is important to distinguish emotions from facts, to recognise that emotions are data, and that it pays to step back and focus on what it is that you really want. Some challenges may not be easy to fix, but making a conscious choice on how to engage puts you in a powerful position going forwards.

Matthew Fuller is an ICF-accredited coach specialising in stress and anxiety. He knows firsthand what it's like to be immobilised by stress and anxiety. The emotions and beliefs we carry with us have a huge impact on our success, the success of our teams, and our happiness. That's why he works with people to explore their internal blocks, be they outdated beliefs, negative thought patterns, or unhelpful habits. He works with others as a travel partner, exploring their internal world through a blend of mindfulness, Cognitive Behavioral Coaching (CBC), and neuroscience to help them overcome the challenges in front of you. You can find him at  www.matthewctfuller.com, on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/MatthewCTFuller/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/matthewctfuller.

You can also watch on www.youtube.com/@dr-coach/videos.
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Phil is a doctor and an Irish Olympian rower. In this episode, we discuss how his understanding of elite sport performance can help doctors at work. He describes a great analogy of his whole life / career being a four legged stool, and that whilst you might only be able to function on three, you cannot do so on two legs. I love the idea of always making choices about what is prioritised today, and always understanding that there are long term as well as short term goals. He tells me that pressure is important for learning, and that the key is to understand what the pressure is and how it helps you progress. And I love how he talks about the importance of having mental clarity instead of jumping into situations in the middle of an adrenaline rush.

If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like Episode 56 how to perform under pressure, 82 what doctors can learn from elite athletes, and 80 optimising mental performance.

You can also watch at www.youtube.com/@dr-coach/videos.
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Career success means different things to different people. However, as doctors we compare ourselves to each other, and when applying for jobs we are compared against other candidates. In this episode Jason, who is a PGY3 doctor, tells me about his experiences of defining career success. We talk about how comparison with others can be good, but it can also be problematic. His advice is to focus on learning, people, and the "why", as much as on external indicators of success.

Jason is a postgraduate year 3 doctor currently working as a medical education HMO in Melbourne. You can connect with him on LinkedIn, or on twitter @drjasoncottle.

You can also watch at www.youtube.com/@dr-coach/videos.
Production: Shot by Polachek