How often do you feel frustrated with workplace dynamics? Being a part of a toxic workplace is a big reason that so many of us burnout in healthcare prematurely.
In today’s interview, I speak with Dr. Amanda Brisebois – an expert on conflict resolution in the workplace. We talk about
- How communication breakdowns in the workplace contribute to burnout
- Why it’s crucial to address conflict instead of avoiding it.
- A step-by-step framework for working through conflict so you can feel empowered to speak up for your needs at work.
This episode is filled with practical advice to help you feel empowered in advocating for yourself in the workplace.
Use the audio player above to listen, or tune in on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
ADVOCATING FOR DOCTORS TO FIND THEIR TRUE CALLING AND SENSE OF FULFILLMENT
Amanda was already in Internal Medicine when she started to notice how the stressful situation of doctors was badly affecting their provision of health care services to patients. At first, she thought herself inadequate to pursue her aspirations of making a difference on the issue. She had feared that she lacked the skills and experience for the job. But after getting all the necessary training and applying them to her leadership and coaching practice, she realized that the problem was not with her. It was a systemic problem that stemmed from physicians’ lack of clarity and sense of direction in their careers. Plus, the health care system’s pressure on medical professionals to continue to expand their knowledge even without giving an adequate amount of support. Now, she advocates for doctors to really find out for themselves whether their true fulfillment lies in or out of their Medicine practice.
MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS AS HUNGRY GHOSTS
As doctors, it was considered “normal” behavior to be wanting more and more in the medical practice. It was easy to get lost in the moment when you are already putting in longer hours, seeing more patients than you can handle, and giving so much of yourself just to earn more and succeed as a healthcare professional. This is parallel to the concept of the “Hungry Ghost” in Buddhist psychology, wherein no matter what people achieve in life, they would never be satisfied so they would always yearn for the next best thing to feel their insatiable appetite. With this, she stressed the importance of having that moment to stop and step back to be able to check in with themselves if whatever was already happening was what they truly want. She explains how making use of a “Wellness Wheel” can help you in reflecting on the different aspects of your life that are worth paying attention to and which ones are not.
FINDING OUT WHAT HAS BEEN WRONG ALL ALONG
Having to thrive and survive in the toxicity of their work setting, healthcare workers often couldn’t help but treat each other badly. Sadly, this behavior could be traced back to Med School or Residency wherein students were taught to compete against each other. Medical professionals have constantly been put under pressure to come out as the best among the rest. Med students often had to listen to outside voices that compel them to act a certain way or perform up to the steepest standards. Thus, the culture and environment in most healthcare institutions lack that one important aspect that helps any working relationship to flourish: kindness.
Hence, Amanda has stressed the importance of a functional support system among peers in the medical practice. Likewise, she suggested that people must also learn how to manage their own emotions in order to prevent conflicts. She said that there should be a healthy outlet for the overwhelming emotions, then once they’re out, people should work on figuring out the real problem. You do that step by identifying the neutral and solvable issue within the situation. Eventually, as you uncover the hidden context, you also determine why the issue has been relevant to you and how it also affects others’ situations. It makes you step into other people’s shoes, which is something that people rarely do for others. The by-product of this process is the “Conflict Roadmap,” which is an effective tool that may be used to address and resolve conflicts and ease open communication.
COMMUNICATION (SKILLS) IS KEY
Once colleagues start to open up their insights in a calm respectful way, it offers you the chance to have a good working relationship with them and consequently a better work culture and environment. Of course, it takes guts and courage to force yourself to speak up. But in order for the conversation ball to start rolling, one must be willing to take the first step and share their truth. You could start these convos with open-ended neutral questions or have someone mediate if the situations get too complicated. In conflict resolution and negotiation, conversation requires skills. It is also important that people talk it out and stop brushing off stuff under the rug. Once issues remain unaddressed, tension will continue to build up and eventually explode. When this happens, a resolution would be harder to achieve because taking action has already lost its moment.
YOU ALWAYS HAVE A CHOICE
Medical practitioners are wired to go beyond and try to do anything and everything just because they can or even when they are already overwhelmed. This sort of impulsive God Complex is often what drives healthcare workers into burnout and disappointment in their careers. But doctors and other health professionals should remind themselves that it is always okay to say “no.” You don’t have to take all the extra shifts. You don’t have to agree to everything your colleague tells you. Not everything is your cup of tea and if you don’t find joy in absolutely everything involved in your practice, that is okay, too. Knowing what you don’t want to do is as important as knowing what you actually want to do. You have always been the captain of your own ship. It’s never too late to prioritize your happiness and self-care. Own that power and take charge of your life and career choices.
