Do you need a doctor coach?

Life-long learning is an essential skill for not just medical professionals, but entrepreneurs as well, particularly when the pace of global change has accelerated, compounded by the stresses of a pandemic, and change and innovation fatigue are common.

?Short-term situations can require shifts in our careers. Choosing to prioritize these immediate concerns over a longer career goals — while painful — may be necessary. But a temporary departure from your professional goals doesn’t mean all is lost. You can still have control over your career arc by using four strategies. First, reframe the situation; even if you’re not advancing at work, you’re still advancing in other areas at home. Second, find learning opportunities to develop new skills in your current role. Third, push back against standard options. And finally, use small amounts of time toward your goals — even if it’s only three minutes at a time

If you are not meeting your professional development goals, maybe it's time for a learning coach.

According to a resource produced by the AMA for struggling medical students, just as the master adaptive learning model guides learners in setting priorities throughout their careers, “it can also help them react appropriately at times when their learning is not proceeding as they wish,” the authors wrote, noting that struggles can take place in any of the four master adaptive learning phases. In each of these phases detailed below, having metacognitive skill—the ability to think about one’s own thinking—is crucial.

Planning phase struggles.?These could be as simple as having trouble with time management, having unrealistic expectations for oneself or failing to meet deadlines.

Learning phase struggles.?Appearing fatigued, having trouble making sense of learning resources and blaming poor performance on being a bad test-taker are examples.

Assessing phase struggles.?These are typified by having unexpectedly low performance outcomes and trouble operationalizing strategies to achieve outcomes, as well as self-assessment that isn’t calibrated—doesn’t match a supervisor's or a peer’s assessment of the individual’s performance.

Adjusting phase struggles.?Clues include that the learner is having trouble with new situations, seeing big-picture issues and implementing

Physician career coaching has exploded and developed into a cottage industry. But, since there are no universally accepted standards or required certification or licensing, anyone can call themselves a career coach, including many doctors who are trying to brand themselves as career coaches in a particular niche. There is even an institute.

These phases of life long learning apply not just to medical students, but residents and practicing clincians as well. As such, they should be incorporated in CME offerings as "virtual coaching aids" that help pace and measure learning progress. In addition, they should be one of your entrepreneurial habits.

Here is a student success model that combines high touch with high tech.

Don't struggle. Use online tools or a coach or mentor to help you stay current and improve your ability to see around corners.

Arlen Meyers, MD, MBA is the President and CEO of the Society of Physician Entrepreneurs