What Should You Expect From Physician Coaching?

If you’re considering investing in physician coaching, you probably want to know what you will actually have to show for it when your coaching arc is complete.

Will there be a written plan? Goals? Metrics? Accountability? Practical strategies? Or will coaching mainly consist of talking through problems and reflecting on what comes up?

These are reasonable questions, and they’re the questions that prospective clients often ask me.

Here’s what you should know: Good coaching creates space for reflection. Sometimes that’s exactly what’s needed to get unstuck. But coaching can also help you set goals, develop an action plan, or navigate difficult circumstances and conversations.

Having a safe place to think out loud with a compassionate, objective coach can lead to important breakthroughs and meaningful change. Coaching may help you recognize and reframe habitual patterns involving perfectionism, imposter syndrome, procrastination, or over-responsibility. That shift in perspective can change how you approach both your work and your life.

And when you are looking for something more concrete, coaching can help you translate your insight and vision into clearer decisions, more intentional actions, and purposeful changes in the way you work and live.

What might a successful three-month coaching arc look like?

There is no single definition of success because each physician brings different goals and circumstances.

One physician may want to establish clearer limits around an expanding workload. Another may be exploring leadership opportunities. Someone else may be considering a career transition, developing a medical education project, or trying to protect more time and energy for life outside medicine.

The first step is to clarify the personal values that matter most to you. The next is to imagine what success would look like in concrete terms, while recognizing that the destination is not set in stone. Goals and circumstances may change over time, while your core values can serve as important guideposts.

What happens during the first month of coaching?

As with most aspects of coaching, this looks different for each person. But the first several sessions usually focus on clarifying three things:

⭐ What is creating the most pressure right now?

⭐ What broader patterns may be contributing to the problem?

⭐ What would make coaching feel worthwhile?

Using my Focus-Shift-Balance-Fly framework, this is where we begin with Focus.

We work toward clarity before rushing into solutions. And we begin to notice the patterns, assumptions, and habits that may be contributing to the challenge.

As clarity develops, we begin the early stages of Shift—moving from reacting to circumstances toward making intentional choices about how to respond, and what else to explore.

An immediate challenge can then become an opportunity to develop skills and perspectives that apply far beyond a single workplace issue.

What should happen after each coaching session?

A coaching session does not need to generate pages of homework to be useful. Sometimes a worksheet, journal prompt, or other strategic exercise can help create momentum. But more paperwork is not always the best answer for an already overloaded physician.

No matter what form it takes, each session should lead to discovery and a defined next step that takes place outside of the coaching conversation.

Depending on the topic, that might include:

✅ A brief action plan

✅ A script or outline for a difficult conversation

✅ A decision-making framework

✅ A calendar or weekly planning experiment

✅ A boundary statement

✅ A list of information to gather

✅ A measurable step on a career project

✅ A reflection question designed to uncover a recurring pattern

There’s no one-size-fits-all action plan. That’s what makes coaching such a human-centered and personalized process.

What should be different after three months of coaching?

Three months is not enough time to redesign an entire career. But it is enough time to create meaningful momentum that extends into the future.

Depending on the focus of the coaching, a physician may have:

🔺Greater clarity about priorities

🔺A more functional calendar or planning system

🔺Better-defined work boundaries

🔺More confidence approaching difficult conversations

🔺A repeatable process for making values-based decisions

🔺Visible progress on a career project

🔺Greater awareness of patterns such as over-responsibility, perfectionism, or avoidance

🔺A clearer understanding of what a sustainable medical career would require

At this stage, you have begun experimenting with what is possible, making intentional adjustments, and designing your life in a way that better honors your values.

Rather than simply reacting to demands, you are beginning to create systems, habits, and choices that support the future you want to build.

Most importantly, you have more than insight. You are moving forward with greater confidence, intention, and alignment.

Coaching is structured, but not rigid

Coaching is not a standardized productivity program. It’s designed to support you as an individual, with all of the complexity that implies.

A strategy that works well for one physician may be unrealistic for another, even when the problems seem similar. That could be due to professional responsibilities, family needs, personal values, or organizational culture.

As a coach, my role is to create a space where you are empowered to clarify your own goals, uncover the obstacles, examine patterns, develop practical strategies, and receive the support and accountability that serve you best.

You remain the expert on your own life, values, and circumstances. And through coaching, you will renew and refine your own vision, creating your own future.

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If you have questions about coaching and how it might work for you, please contact me through the website, or schedule your complimentary 30 minute discovery session.

Getting Unstuck: How a Simple Mind Shift Can Move Your Life Forward

An earlier version of this article appeared on this website in April, 2024

If you’re a physician, you’re probably juggling patient care, administrative tasks, and personal responsibilities like a boss. But when you feel the need for something beyond the daily routine, whether that’s professional growth, personal renewal, or a new path, it can feel daunting.

Maybe you’re wanting to learning a new procedure, launch a research project, carve out space for self-care, or perhaps you’re even considering a major career move. These big leaps can seem daunting. So despite your motivation to move forward, it’s common to feel caught in a loop—busy but stuck in place, like a hamster on a treadmill.

As a physician coach, I see this often. From the inside, the obstacles can feel huge. But there’s always a way through, and it starts with understanding what’s holding you back.

In this article, I’ll explore common reasons that physicians feel immobilized, and I’ll offer you some strategies that will get you moving forward with purpose.

Break the Cycle of Habit Loops

The issue may not be a lack of action. Instead, you may find yourself defaulting to actions that feel safe and predictable in the moment, but don’t truly move you forward. It’s a common trap. Whether it’s procrastinating on notes, sidestepping difficult conversations, or saying yes too often, these autopilot habits can hold you back from the progress you want.

➡️Strategy: Notice your default loops and interrupt them. Swap one unhelpful behavior for something small but different. That could be finishing one note before checking email, setting a five-minute timer to reflect before agreeing to a request, or committing to learning something new each week. Even tiny pattern shifts break the cycle and let in some light.

Stop Overthinking and Start Moving

Other times, the problem isn’t repetition, it’s hesitation. You know that you need to make a change, but fear of making the wrong choice or endless analysis of your options keeps you frozen. You tell yourself you’re “waiting for the right time,” but in reality, you’re letting opportunities slip by while the decision sits untouched.

➡️Strategy: Embrace the concept of “progress, not perfection.” Understand that inaction is also a decision, and sometimes the most costly one. But creating your future doesn’t have to mean leaping into the great unknown. Choose a single, manageable step aligned with your goals. Build momentum gradually, and your confidence will rise with each action you take.

Handle Challenges Before They Grow

Unresolved problems don’t vanish. They tend to grow tentacles and multiply. Whether patient-related, administrative, or personal, ignoring nagging issues drains your energy and makes forward motion harder.

➡️Strategy: Be proactive. That doesn’t mean you solve everything on the fly. Instead, put each issue in its place: delegate it, schedule time to address it, or even decide to say no. Building this habit can turn obstacles into action points instead of lingering stressors.

The Weight of Incomplete Tasks

Unfinished notes and half-done tasks are a huge mental burden. For physicians, this irritating backlog is not only stressful but can compromise patient care. It’s a constant source of attention residue that saps your brainpower and makes you less efficient.

➡️Strategy: Get that stuff done. Use templates, smart phrases, and to-the-point documentation practices to streamline charting. Tackle your inbox with a “touch it once” mindset: respond, delegate, or delete. Time-management tools like time-blocking or the Pomodoro Technique can keep you on track and reduce overwhelm. You might even schedule a “chart date” with a friend, making a pact to get your unfinished work done together.

Reclaim Your Value

You know your work matters. Your patients count on you, and you make a difference in their lives. Yet it’s common for physicians to undervalue themselves. When that happens, you may find yourself stuck in toxic environments, missing out on opportunities, or saying yes to projects that drain your energy and don’t serve your best interests.

➡️Strategy: Practice self-reflection and affirmation to strengthen your sense of worth. Journaling can be a very useful exercise. So can revisiting a folder or a box with notes of appreciation from patients and colleagues. When needed, work with a coach to clarify your values and goals, and build confidence. If the burden feels especially heavy, consider scheduling time with a therapist.

Stop Living by Other People’s Expectations

From family expectations to workplace culture, many physicians find themselves following someone else’s script. Over time, this can leave you in roles that don’t align with your values.

➡️Strategy: Define success on your own terms. Take time to reflect on what success means to you, both personally and professionally. Living authentically creates momentum and fulfillment that external definitions of success never will.

Moving Forward

Feeling stuck doesn’t have to be a way of life. When you begin to recognize what’s keeping you in place and apply intentional strategies, you can shift from stagnation to forward motion.

Anchor yourself in your values, trust your resilience, and let small actions become stepping-stones toward change. As you shift your mindset from simply accepting the status quo to creating space for growth, you’ll begin to notice opportunities opening where you once only saw obstacles.

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If you’ve enjoyed this article and would like to stay in the loop for more insights on creating a sustainable, fulfilling, and happy life as a physician, sign up for my newsletter or reach out on my website. I’d love to hear from you.

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Overcoming Your Roadblocks: A Physician's Guide to Navigating Change When it’s Time to Move On

An earlier version of this article appeared on this website in December, 2023.

If you’re feeling stuck in your practice, torn between your current role and the pull toward something different, you’re not alone. In the old paradigm, physicians assumed they’d join a practice after training and remain there until retirement. Especially in private practice, moving locations, switching roles, or stepping away from clinical work altogether was rare and even stigmatized.

But the landscape has changed. Across every sector, more physicians are re-evaluating what fulfillment means—and realizing that staying true to your values may require reimagining your role, whether within your current system or beyond it.

It’s a deeply personal realization, and one that can feel both unsettling and energizing. And it’s becoming increasingly common.

In fact, a recent Mayo clinic survey reported that one in five physicians plan to leave their practices within the next two years, and one in three expect to reduce work hours. A second study found that amongst academics, one in three felt a moderate or greater intention to leave. And a 2023-2024 AMA survey of nearly 18,000 physicians from more than 100 health care systems reported similar finding across all physicians. What’s more, the number may be closer to 40 percent in some specialties, including Anesthesiology, Radiology, and Vascular and General Surgery. Burnout, excessive EHR requirements, and lack of support from their organizations were primary issues cited in these studies.

All of this is to say that if you're considering a change, you’re not alone. But that doesn’t make the decision easy. Physicians are often motivated by loyalty and compassion. But we are also creatures of habit, and veering off the well-worn path can feel daunting.

You’re someone who’s used to thinking independently and making critical decisions, but it’s likely that your roadmap was clearly defined from the start: college, medical school, residency, maybe fellowship. As long as you followed this straight and narrow track, and nothing unexpected knocked you off course, you would make it down the road. Waiting for you at the end of the trail would be a satisfying profession, a place of respect in your community, and a happy home life to balance it all out.

Over the past decade, that promise has faded for many physicians. Burnout due to lack of autonomy, higher patient demands, a sicker and older population, falling reimbursements, the unrelenting pace of EHR tasks: all have contributed. So have our increasingly disconnected healthcare systems. It’s not surprising that more and more doctors are reflecting on what they want from their careers, and what might need to shift.

Moving on is sometimes the best and healthiest choice. But change doesn’t always mean leaving your organization or giving up your practice altogether. Sometimes transformation begins by renegotiating how you work: seeking new roles, advocating for flexibility, or crafting a job description that better aligns with your strengths and goals.

Still, thinking about change of any type can feel like stepping into the unknown. The hardest part is often getting started. It may even feel as if your feet are stuck in quicksand. That’s normal. But once you begin, you’ll discover that your momentum will build and possibilities will unfold as you continue to move forward.

In this article, I’ll give you seven actionable steps that can help you move forward when you’re feeling stuck.

1. Self-Reflection

Before deciding what’s next, take time to reflect on what matters most, both professionally and personally. You don’t need to know the final destination yet, but clarity around your values, interests, and strengths is essential.

Journaling for a few minutes each day can help. Ask yourself:

❓What are my defining values? How do I want to manifest those values in my daily life?

❓What aspects of my current role energize me—or drain me?

❓What skills do I love using? And what would I be happy to give up?

❓How do I want to feel at the end of each day?

❓What would I regret not doing, both personally and professionally?

❓How will any change I make impact my loved ones, either positively or negatively?

Making time for self-reflection will lay the foundation for building a more aligned, satisfying professional life, whether that’s in a new place or a new role within your current setting.

  2. Recognize Your Triggers and Limiting Beliefs:

When you’re contemplating change, it’s natural for doubts to arise: “I can’t start over,” “I’m too far along,” “What would my colleagues/ family/friends think of me?” or “I’m lucky to have a job—why rock the boat?”

Instead of pushing these thoughts aside, examine them:

❓What stories am I telling myself?

❓What are these beliefs protecting me from?

❓Are they actually true—or just familiar?

❓What would it take to feel more confident in exploring a new path?

❓If there are meaningful limitations that are holding me back, how can I close the gaps?

Acknowledging and challenging these beliefs is a key step toward moving forward.

 3. Seek Guidance

 Talk to mentors, colleagues, or others who’ve made career shifts, whether big or small. You may be surprised by how many have reimagined their roles without leaving their organizations. Others may have made audacious shifts and found greater fulfillment. And some may have dealt with regrets and learned from their mistakes. The point is not to recreate anyone’s story, but rather to understand that your own possibilities may be more expansive than you realize.

Tapping into others’ experiences can offer both perspective and inspiration. Just be thoughtful about whom you confide in—especially if your plans are still unfolding.

 4. Set Achievable Goals

Break your career change into smaller, manageable goals. This not only makes the process less intimidating but also gives you a way to envision the road ahead.

Rather than winging it and hoping for the best, create a timeline with defined milestones. These might include:

✅Gaining specific qualifications or licensure

✅Attending relevant conferences,

✅Researching places you might want to live

✅Identifying internal opportunities that might better align with your goals

✅Exploring part-time or leadership roles within your system

✅Updating your CV or LinkedIn profile

✅Reaching out to potential employers or colleagues in your desired field.

Use the SMART framework—Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound—to track your progress and stay motivated.

 5. Reframe Setbacks as Lessons

 Rejection can sting. And not every door will open right away. Setbacks are part of any meaningful journey. Instead of seeing them as failures, view them as data.

What did you learn? What might you do differently next time? What can you take with you to the next opportunity?

Stay rooted in your “why,” and let that guide your next move.

 6. Get Comfortable with the Unknown

 Uncertainty is normal. It’s uncomfortable, especially if you’ve grown accustomed to defined pathways. But the unknown becomes less intimidating when you ground yourself in research and preparation.

If you’re exploring a nonclinical role, learn the landscape. If you’re considering a new position, understand the expectations, workflows, and culture. And if your skills need to be refreshed, find out what you need to do to make that happen, then make a plan to get it done.

The more you know, the more confident you’ll feel taking the next step.

 7. Keep an Open Mind

You don’t need to have everything figured out right now. Stay open to possibilities while keeping your perspective grounded. Often unexpected new opportunities will present themselves while you are putting in the work.

Seek input from those you trust, but recognize that you’re the one who knows yourself best. Give yourself the space to grow into what’s next.

Final Thoughts

Redefining your path as a physician takes courage, clarity, and commitment. You’ve honed these skills over the past decades of training and professional practice. Now, it’s about using them to design the life that you want to live. Whether you're stepping into a new career, transitioning into a different role within your current system, or simply giving yourself permission to explore, start by addressing the internal roadblocks that stand in your way.

Be willing to ask bold questions and take thoughtful action. Most of all, trust in your ability to create a more fulfilling and sustainable future.

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If you’ve enjoyed this article and would like to stay in the loop for more insights on creating a sustainable, fulfilling, and happy life as a physician, sign up for my newsletter or reach out on my website. I’d love to hear from you.

And if you’d like to schedule a complimentary introductory meeting with me, click the link below.