Demonstrating Confidence

Always Act Like You've Been There Before
by Robert Priddy
I try to refrain from sports analogies, but this is one of my favorites. I'm from Ohio, so, yes, I'm a buckeye at heart, and one from the Woody Hayes era of The Ohio State University football. So, the legend goes, a young Ohio State player scored his first touchdown for the Scarlet and Gray. He then performed some celebration in the end-zone before returning to the sidelines, whereupon Coach Hayes reportedly grabbed him by the front of the jersey and pulling him in close growled, "Son, when you play for THE Ohio State University, you act like you've been there before."

I speak with many physicians who tell me they hope to secure a nonclinical job where they will be mentored, since they see this move as very new to them. To which, I state, no, you may want to be mentored, but no-one wants to have to mentor you, so when you walk through that door, you need to act like you've been there before. Organizations are more likely to hire you if they believe you bring new knowledge, new expertise and new opportunities than if your expectation is simply that they will teach you a job.

Further, mentoring, good mentoring that is, is not a commodity to be assigned, but is rather a relationship that develops. Nearly everyone I know, myself included, is mentored in each job by someone, if not by several people. But you don't ask to be mentored, you observe, you emulate, you ask questions.... see one, do one, teach one. See, you have been there before.
If you'd like to learn more, don't hesitate to contact me for an initial, no-charge, no-obligation Hallway Consult...voice or text to 720-339-3585 or email RFP@thirdevo.com.