How to create your own growth plan

How to create your own growth plan

4th September 2024

[Source: The Probe • June 2024]

As we know there are natural career paths within dentistry – and as we navigate through each step we move closer to the goals we set ourselves. But a growth plan isn’t just about the clinical component, it encompasses everything that we need for successful, holistic, all-round development. Ideally we need to strive towards a healthy balance that includes a mental, social, physical, emotional and spiritual structure. 

Being in sync means that each of these personal pillars supports the others so it’s a real inner team effort. You just can’t flourish if you’re out of alignment. You might have the most impressive, well-perfected endodontic game but it won’t serve anyone if you’re falling asleep on the job or haven’t been able to communicate with your patient.

Whilst working on every aspect of yourself you’ll be following your own dental career path. The expected routes are not for everyone and you may find yourself at a point in your career where your route becomes more circuitous and explorative as opposed to clear-cut and linear. We will each have our own definition of success. I’d say to not be afraid of meandering seemingly off-course wherever inspiration strikes if it feels right and engages you. Take the course, attend the meeting, feed your curious self.

For me, career development went in the opposite direction to the norm. My dental practices came before the postgraduate qualification in endodontic practice. I learnt the business side of dentistry and then upgraded (and continue to upgrade) my clinical skills in the area that I am most passionate about – endodontics. Learning how to be a businessperson was important and interesting to me – like building my boat and learning to sail before I hit the high seas! Within the practices I can hone all sorts of skills – business practice, people management and communication. The teaching I do fulfils another side of my thirst for improving myself. It allows me to share my knowledge and experience, develops my confidence and presenting abilities, motivates me to keep learning, teaches me to listen more and takes me to great places where I meet all kinds of people.

On our development journeys it would be the worst kind of narcissist who doesn’t include those around them in the process. Whoever is with you – your colleagues, family, mentors, students – they are all looking to grow in their own way. There’s an incredible word, one of my favourites, ‘sonder’. Sonder is the realisation that everyone in your life doesn’t exist solely in relation to you, they each have exactly the same 360-degree life that you do. By being generous with your time and knowledge we all do better together. Also the people around us provide no end of lessons – humility, inspiration, fun. We’re all naturally at the centre of our own stories but the people around us are more than our supporters, they are at the centre of their own stories too.

I can’t mention a growth plan (or most things!) without reference to Kaizen, small incremental steps to improvement. In this context Kaizen is a good reminder that any steps are worth taking – whether they are forwards, sideways or even backwards – if they serve you.