Leadership Alchemy No. 25-D – Lessons from the White Coat: Values We Can Learn from Doctors

By Anupama Vaidya.  

On this Doctors Day, I salute every doctor and express my heartfelt gratitude for their invaluable contributions. It’s a day dedicated to honouring their tireless efforts and unwavering dedication to improving the health and well-being of others.

Doctors embody a true epitome of personalised care, recognising the uniqueness of each patient and their families. Doctors offer us profound insights and valuable lessons through their professional commitment. Beyond healing, doctors exemplify qualities and values that can profoundly inspire us in our daily lives.

Let's strive to embrace the leadership lessons from our doctors' fraternity and incorporate them into our own behaviours and mindsets:

Empathy and Compassion

These are more than just words for doctors like Dr. Sajit Babu, Dr. Gaurang Desai, and Dr. Deepak Shukla. During my father's final illness, I witnessed firsthand the profound impact of their care. While the limitations of medicine were clear, these doctors treated my dad with unwavering patience and genuine concern.

Their communication wasn’t just informative, it was filled with kindness and sensitivity. They offered their presence and support, not just as medical professionals but as human beings. This simple act of empathy made a world of difference for us.  Because of them, my father navigated those final months with dignity and a sense of being cared for and we as a family could deal with this painful phase of our life. The doctors made a difference in the way they helped us walk this journey even in the utmost final moments.

This experience left an indelible mark on me.  It showed me empathy and compassion in their purest forms. They listened not just to hear, but to understand. Their actions, not just their words, offered comfort and support.  Even amidst unimaginable pain, they made our family feel seen and supported.

Pause & Reflect: Can you think of a recent instance where you embodied these qualities in your own life? did you listen attentively to understand or do you hear to react? How are you cultivating empathy and compassion in your daily life?  How do you treat those who are more vulnerable than you?

Lifelong Learning 

Did you know doctors dedicate an average of 8 hours per week training across their careers! The field of medicine constantly evolves, and doctors stay updated with the latest advancements and research. This commitment to lifelong learning is crucial for their ability to provide the best care.

Pause & Reflect: How invested are you in your learning? What does learning mean to you? How many hours per week do you spend on seeking knowledge, learning new skills, and staying curious about the world around you? Do you demonstrate learning through your work? Embracing lifelong learning is an essential for our personal and professional growth, keeping us adaptable, relevant and respected through our life!

Resilience and Perserverance

The COVID-19 pandemic was a period of immense hardship, particularly for the medical community. Doctors on the frontlines faced the unknown head-on, treating patients with unwavering dedication yet grappling with the loss of many. Yet, amidst the heartbreak, their resilience and perseverance shone through. They stood tall despite the emotional toll, ready to face the next case with the same level of care and expertise. This unwavering commitment was evident in the quiet moments too.

Witnessing a doctor, after delivering the devastating news of a patient's passing, immediately rushing to attend to another critical case exemplified the incredible strength they possess. They understood that despite the losses they carried, their duty was to keep fighting for every life. This cycle of grief and hope, loss and continued care, is a testament to the immense resilience and perseverance that defines the medical profession.

Pause & Reflect: How do you handle set-backs and challenges? Do you bounce back quickly or do you struggle to move forward? Do you take the learnings and be better everyday? What it that purpose of your life that helps you be resilient and persevere to keep on marching forward?

Attention to Detail 

Contracting falciparum malaria was a real wake-up call for the importance of attention to detail. While headaches, fatigue, and a low-grade fever seemed like typical symptoms, Dr. Vidvauns and the late Dr. BM Pai saw beyond the obvious. They meticulously reviewed my history, noticing a seemingly insignificant detail – my travel in the previous weeks. This, combined with their thorough analysis beyond initial test results, ultimately led to a diagnosis when tests weren't definitive. Their focus on the "not so obvious" details, along with asking the right questions, ensured I received the treatment needed. It was a powerful lesson: sometimes, the key to solving a problem lies in the seemingly insignificant details and making no assumptions, consulting other doctors even when they were experts in their respective fields!

Pause & Reflect: How mindful are you to details in your work or daily routine while you go through the motions of life? When faced with a problem, do you take time to gather all the information, even seemingly insignificant? Are you open to look beyond the obvious? Do you seek different perspectives to be able to not miss the attention to detail?

Ethical Integrity 

Even with the vast array of skills doctors possess, their unwavering commitment to ethical principles is paramount. It's the bedrock of the trust we place in them. In my experience, I've been fortunate to have doctors who embody honesty, transparency, and unwavering integrity. A whole list of doctors comes to mind. When faced with a complex diagnosis for a family member, our doctors didn't hesitate to consult with a specialist, prioritizing my loved one's well-being above all else. This experience solidified my belief that ethical integrity is the cornerstone of the medical profession. It's a constant reminder that doctors aren't just treating illnesses; they're building trust, and that trust is built on a foundation of ethical behaviour. The rare instances where this trust is broken are unfortunate exceptions, not the norm. The vast majority of doctors uphold these values, and it's this commitment that allows us to place our lives and the lives of our loved ones in their care with confidence.

Pause & Reflect: How do you embody honesty and  transparency to positively impact on the responsibilities entrusted to you? How do you build trust through your actions? Are your actions, words, capability aligned?  What principles guide your decisions and actions? Are there ways you can integrate these values well into your daily life?

As we celebrate Doctors Day, let’s wholeheartedly embrace these five leadership lessons from the medical profession: Empathy and Compassion, Lifelong Learning, Resilience and Perseverance, Attention to Detail, and Ethical Integrity. Doctors embody numerous other admirable qualities and learning from their example is a profound opportunity in itself.

Lets honor their dedication by integrating these qualities into our lives, as they not only foster personal growth but also contribute to creating a more compassionate, knowledgeable and ethical society.

In gratitude to all the doctors who inspire us and tirelessly work to make the world a healthier, better place.