The Hidden Skill That Separates Good Doctors from Great Leaders (Hint: It's Not What You Think)
Self-awareness isn't just personal development fluff—it's the cornerstone skill that separates competent clinicians from exceptional medical leaders. In high-pressure medical environments, the ability to recognise your emotional responses, communication patterns, and leadership triggers can mean the difference between conversations that heal and those that inadvertently harm.
The Night I Almost Quit Medicine
Nearly 40 years ago, I was two days away from quitting medicine before I'd even started. The crushing weight of imposter syndrome, perfectionism, and self-doubt had convinced me I wasn't cut out to be a doctor. Here's how a conversation with a psychiatry registrar changed everything—and why we need to do better for today's junior doctors.
From Emergency Decisions to Systemic Change: How Coaching Can Transform Patient Safety in Medicine
A trainee anaesthetist's lesson about rapid sequence induction reveals a deeper truth about patient safety and physician wellbeing. Discover how coaching programs can reduce burnout by 21% and create lasting positive change in healthcare.
How Perfectionism Fuels Imposter Syndrome in Doctors
For years, I believed that if I could just know everything—every diagnosis perfect, every treatment plan bulletproof—then I'd finally feel legitimate wearing that white coat. Here's why that thinking was dead wrong, and how letting go of perfectionism actually made me a better doctor.
The Tea Room Emergency: A Mother's Moment of Truth
I'm standing in the hospital tea room, watching my 8-year-old daughter count out coins for the vending machine while my 5 and 3-year-old hover nearby. "Bec, you're in charge," I tell her. I'm about to leave my three children—alone—in a hospital tea room so I can rush to provide anaesthesia for emergency surgery. This is my "Mother of the Year" moment, and I know it.
Beyond Superhuman
Discover why work-life balance fails doctors and how work-life integration creates thriving medical professionals who provide better patient care. A veteran anaesthetist shares hard-won insights.
The Death of Work-Life Balance
Let's be honest—work-life balance is pretty much impossible when you're a doctor. Between patient emergencies, on-call schedules, and the mental load of clinical work, trying to perfectly balance everything just leaves you feeling guilty no matter what you're focusing on. But what if instead of chasing balance, we focused on integration? This approach recognises that work and life don't have to compete—they can actually support each other when you're intentional about how you blend them. It's messier than the perfect balance myth, but it's infinitely more realistic and sustainable for busy physicians.
Navigating Burnout
Healthcare burnout is real, but it's not inevitable. Learn practical strategies to align your work with your values, set healthy boundaries, and sustain your passion for patient care long-term.
The Power of Coaching for Doctors
The Power of Coaching for Doctors: A Path to Resilience, Growth, and Fulfilment
Thriving in Medicine: The Rise of Wellbeing 2.0
Healthcare is at a tipping point. Burnout, moral injury, and chronic stress are no longer isolated issues—they're systemic. Wellbeing 2.0 is a bold new approach that moves beyond bubble baths and resilience slogans to focus on real, sustainable change. This blog explores how compassionate leadership, psychological safety, and tech-enabled support can help doctors and health professionals not just survive—but truly thrive.