In healthcare (and in life) we are presented with difficult challenges that don’t have optimal solutions. Most of the time, physicians are very good at finding solutions when difficult problems present themselves. But occasionally, we get stuck. When we encounter a hurdle we just can’t seem to clear, a valuable coaching skill we can use is reframing. In this article, we will look at how we can use reframing to move past tricky challenges.
WHAT IS REFRAMING?
Reframing is all about changing your perspective. When done correctly, reframing a situation will present new options that hadn’t even occurred to you. Reframing is a common tool used in coaching and can apply to nearly any situation! This is a common strategy likely many of us use already with our patients, kids, or others in our lives we are trying to solve problems for.
Reframing Strategies
Now that we know what reframing is, let’s talk about how we can use it in our daily practices and how it can help us overcome difficult challenges. Here are three reframing strategies that can help:
- Brainstorming. Many people, when dealing with a problem, will convince themselves that they only have one option (even if it’s terrible). Don’t accept this as the only way. Write down at least three ideas for solving the problem. The simple act of brainstorming can uncover other ideas you’d never even considered. It’s also fun to laugh at some of the off-the-wall ideas that you come up with!
- Question the Problem Itself. Identify the problem you are trying to solve and ask yourself if this is even the right problem you should be trying to solve at the moment. Most of the “debate” about burnout, moral injury, and joy in practice are great examples of reframing by challenging whether we are addressing the correct problem. Hence, we have more potential solutions!
- Put Yourself in Someone Else’s Shoes. When presented with a problem, most people will pare down their options based on what they believe are their strengths. Think about how a different person would approach the problem at hand. This can present different solutions. When I read other’s perspectives on a challenge, I am energized. I know I don’t have to agree 100% to learn something from others. Occasionally, this open-minded approach gives me an excellent way to reframe my challenge!
Putting these Strategies Into Practice
Chances are we are already utilizing all three of these strategies to successfully navigate challenges. But when we inevitably get stuck, are we consciously calling on one of these strategies to help us see things from another perspective? Or are we stuck trying to figure things by looking at it in the same frame?
Do you have any specific stories about how reframing has helped you? We want to hear about it! Contact us today at surgeonmasters.com to share your story and learn more about how we’re helping physicians build more sustainable practices.
Do you want to contribute? Email [email protected] to share your perspective with the community.