Conscientious and dedicated professionals such as doctors often find themselves at the end of a shift reflecting on the day's events, analysing what went well and what could have been better. However, if you are prone to being very self-critical or suffer from imposter syndrome, this reflection can become skewed, with an overwhelming focus on what didn’t go to plan. This tendency to zero in on perceived failures can lead to feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt that are not grounded in reality or evidence.

For some, reflecting positively on the day’s achievements comes naturally. They easily identify and acknowledge the numerous successes and moments of satisfaction throughout their day. They balance these with constructive insights on what didn’t go as planned, allowing for learning and growth without undermining their self-worth.

However, for many others, the focus tends to immediately shift to what went wrong. This disproportionate emphasis can create a false narrative of failure, eroding confidence and reinforcing self-doubt. It's essential to recognise that this negative bias is neither helpful nor accurate. Most of us accomplish far more in a day than we give ourselves credit for, and the positives often outweigh the negatives by a significant margin.

Building new habits: A mindset shift

To counteract this tendency, we encourage you to develop a new habit of evidence-based reflection. Start by asking yourself:

• What went well today?
• What tasks went according to plan?
• What positive feedback did I receive?
• What am I proud of?
• Did I meet the expectations of my role?

As you review your day, take note of how much of your work was neutral (as expected) or above expectations compared to the moments that didn’t go as planned. For those that didn’t go well, reflect on what was within your control:

• How could I have approached this differently?
• Could this have been predicted?
• What is the learning?

Lastly, consider the bigger picture. In the grand scheme of your day, how much truly didn’t go to plan? Were there external factors at play, such as being understaffed, dealing with a higher-than-usual number of very unwell patients, or encountering system issues?

By shifting your focus to a balanced and evidence-based reflection, you’ll find that the majority of your day was filled with successes, and the moments that didn’t go well offer valuable lessons rather than reasons for self-doubt. Over time, this practice can help you build a healthier, more accurate perception of your abilities and contributions, ultimately combating feelings of imposter syndrome and fostering a more positive, resilient mindset.

If this is a habit that are familiar with, it might be worth speaking to one of our team - Book a career call if you think it is impacting your performance in role, job satisfaction or general well being you might benefit from engaging in one of our coaching programs.  Its an issue that comes up often with our coaching clients.

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