Personal growth and professional development are opportunities all doctors should be thinking about, regardless of how far along the path they have travelled as a medical professional.

The term itself conjures images of after hours workshops, conferences and courses offering certificates of recognition.

It can be that, but it also doesn’t have to be that formal.

Personal growth for GPs within your clinic

This is something that we can all aspire to achieve every day we go to work.

Gaining and applying new skills and knowledge that improves our performance makes us better doctors.

It can be as simple as understanding our weaknesses and areas we would like to improve or moving out of our comfort zones. In some cases you may want to double-down on your strengths or specialties.

Some examples are:

  • Being mentored or mentoring a junior doctor which is especially important
  • Reading and research in a particular field of interest
  • Informal meetings with peers discussing the latest research, innovation and trends
  • Challenging yourself with new tasks and experiences

Core values to consider

Focusing on developing leadership skills brings personal benefit, but also benefit to those around us.

While collaborative care is becoming more prevalent, great teams are usually still the product of great leaders.

And while any given team may already have a natural leader, there is always room for more leadership.

This is something even doctors new to the profession should be working on from recent graduates to junior registrars.

But it’s not something that comes naturally to everyone.

Great leaders always make others feel important.

They command respect rather than demanding it because they are knowledgable, supportive, humble, have excellent communication skills and are transformative.

Transformative leaders are invested in relationships and inspire those around them with their clear focus, charisma and personal support.

Conversely, transactional leaders are reactionary and usually the ones bellowing when mistakes are made.

Here are some other core values when considering paths of personal development that make better doctors and great leaders.

Competencies – skills and knowledge can always be improved. Consider further reading or education and make sure you understand the financial drivers that make your practice successful. 

Character – do you know what peers, patients and others think of you? Find out, listen and work on ways to improve, whether it is empathy, resilience, how you speak to others or just keeping calm under pressure.

Communication – it is a two-way street and that means listening carefully, as well as being clear and concise with your instructions to others.

Taking Action

So you’ve considered and put into practice some passive methods designed to boost your personal growth and development.

If there is still an itch to scratch and you want to really take your career to a new realm, here are some active suggestions to consider:

Earn an additional certification – this is a big commitment but the rewards could be substantial. If you want to go to the next level in your chosen field, it could be time to take action.

Volunteer at a free clinic – these don’t exist without medical volunteers. It’s a great way to build your resume and give yourself that real sense of reward that only the giving of your time and expertise can generate.

Join a medical mission – this takes your charity to the next level by the donation of your services to needy patients in developing nations. You are certain to encounter conditions not experienced at home that will challenge you and inevitably help you grow as a medical professional.

Play politics – if you’ve ever thought things need to change, get yourself on a medical committee or board and do something about it by helping make decisions in the best interests of your profession. It’s a great way to expand your network and leave a lasting and valuable legacy.

Explore GP job opportunities at AHA

AHA Clinics encourages personal and professional development and growth, providing training and mentoring for doctors of all ages who wish to progress their careers.

We especially love helping junior medical professionals find their footing with a specially crafted support structure to ensure they thrive.

You will love our beachside, purpose built, state-of-the-art facilities that utilise natural light and make coming to work here a joy.

We pride ourselves on our fantastic culture that supports doctors of all ages both professionally and personally.

There are some outstanding opportunities for doctors at our two clinics at Seaford and Seaford Meadows.

If that sounds attractive to you, we’d love to hear from you.

You can learn more about our practice and register your interest here or email recruit@aharecruitment.com.au.

Our AHA leadership team will contact you soon to arrange an interview.