The Thriving doctor:
How to be more balanced and fulfilled working in medicine:
"The Thriving Doctor: How to Be More Balanced and Fulfilled Working in Medicine" by Sharee Johnson is a comprehensive guide aimed at helping medical professionals achieve personal well-being and professional satisfaction. Drawing from her extensive experience as a psychologist and coach, Johnson addresses the unique challenges faced by doctors, including high stress, burnout, and the demands of the medical profession.
However, Having picked up this book on recommendation from a GP friend of mine, I read it cover to cover, and think that it applies directly to the lives of anyone who lives or works in a highly pressurised environment, and definitely applies to the lives and work of leaders!
In this book, author, coach, psychologist, and founder of Coaching for Doctors, Sharee Johnson shares her significant experience in helping people (primarily those in the health profession) to thrive in highly pressurised environments. She shares her Insights from her work as a psychologist, as well as from her research and coaching with doctors. Her passion is to help health professionals to be present and open, and not frightened or avoidant of the strong emotions and suffering of those they serve, or the pressures they face.
The book contains case studies, exercises one can do to build their ability to thrive under pressure, as well as some of the most current research on how to not just survive in pressurised environments, but how to flourish. Johnson provides an engaging read with relevant skills and micro-skills that even the busiest of professionals can find time to start to build their path toward insightful thriving. She helps her readers to understand the importance of their own health if they are to better serve their patients, highlighting that compassionate and well-balanced doctors are more effective and satisfied in their roles.
In October of 2022, I had the opportunity to interview Sharee about her work, and the deep insights she shared in her book. You can watch 20 minutes of this interview at the link (here).
Key aspects of a thriving doctor include:
Emotional Resilience: Building the emotional strength to handle stress and difficult situations, ensuring long-term mental well-being.
Work-Life Balance: Finding harmony between a demanding career and personal time, fostering healthier relationships and time for rest.
Ongoing Professional Growth: Continuous learning, adapting, and staying passionate about the medical field.
Support Systems: Creating a network of colleagues, mentors, and family who can provide guidance and emotional support.
Self-Care: Prioritizing physical and mental health to maintain energy and focus, preventing burnout.
Through practical strategies and insights, “The Thriving Doctor" encourages its readers to develop skills in emotional regulation, mindfulness, and leadership. By fostering these competencies, anyone can improve their relationships with colleagues and stakeholders (or patients), leading to better outcomes and a more fulfilling career.
This book is applicable to anyone who wants to not only manage to cope with their demanding careers but also excel and thrive in both their professional and personal lives.
To find out more about Sharee, her work, and her book, The thriving doctor: How to be more balanced and fulfilled, working in medicine, you can contact her at her website: https://www.coachingfordoctors.net.au.
