Perspective Is Power: How A Surgeon’s Criticism Was A Catalyst For Change

Someone else’s perspective can either motivate or discourage you. Looking at things in different angles, learning from their commons and differences, and recreating your own perspective can be the powerful change you need for your clinic. Let me tell you how a surgeon’s criticism became a catalyst for one of the most important change I had in understanding my client care service.

I’m an orthopedic surgeon, I don’t believe in orthotics. In fact, most people that I operate on did not – did not need to be there if a podiatrist hadn’t screwed them up with their orthotics. So no, I don’t wear orthotics.

I was still a student back then and I was working at the Athlete’s Foot, a reputable shoe store and franchise here in Australia, because I was studying podiatry. I was gobsmacked when a customer I was trying to assist with told me this: “I’m an orthopedic surgeon, I don’t believe in orthotics. In fact, most people that I operate on did not – did not need to be there if a podiatrist hadn’t screwed them up with their orthotics. So no, I don’t wear orthotics.”

OTHER’S PERSPECTIVE CAN DISCOURAGE YOU

I just joined and I was energetic, looking forward to my career, and a surgeon, who is seemed like god in the medical profession, just slapped down podiatry. So I started to have doubts in my own career path. I asked Once in a while, we encounter people who will challenge our perspectives to the point of self-doubt. These people are mostly those whom we look up to but we must remember that one perspective is not enough.‘what sort of profession that I have got myself into? What sort of career am I gonna have?”

CHANGE: ONE PERSPECTIVE IS NOT ENOUGH

It’s up to you not to have your blinkers on and just do what everyone else has done.

In business, in life, in your career, you’re gonna find people that disagree with the way that you do things. You’re gonna find people who have a different approach, in fact a different perspective. And it’s up to you not to have your blinkers on and just do what everyone else has done. No, it’s up to you to seek out new perspectives, different ways and change. You’re gonna have to connect with surgeons, doctors, physios, chiros, osteos, everyone. And you’re going to have to see how they view the foot, the leg, and the whole body and how it all works together. Otherwise, you’re just going to be like everyone else. You need to get a different perspective.

WHERE CAN WE GET DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES?

What perspectives do you need to refine the way that you’re delivering your health service, and your client care experience? This is very important as we continue to innovate the way that we deliver our health care. We need to seek different perspectives, perhaps different perspectives within our profession, and perhaps, different perspectives in other industries completely different from ours. Maybe you need:

• A different book

• To listen to a completely different podcast

• A coach or a mentor, give www.clinicmastery.com a try

• To pay attention to your own experience as a customer or consumer

When you’re at a shoe store, a retail store, when you’re hopping onto a flight, when you are in a restaurant or a cafe, pay attention and be attuned to how they do things. What’s their perspective on service experience? And if you’re working with a health professional, how do they view this part of the body or health? What’s their philosophy? What’s their approach? How are they doing it?

REACH OUT TO DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES

This is a challenge to you for a change towards betterment. Reach out to different perspectives and that will allow you to continually be providing the absolute best for your patients. You reach out if you would like a different perspective, a clinic mastery perspective and perhaps we can help you. But absolutely be primed, be tuned in to what’s going on, and see if you can distill down how people are doing things, and how you might be able to translate that into the health or the care of your client.