Silencing Your Inner Critic

Silencing Your Inner Critic: Part 1

Aug. 15, 2023

In this 2-part series, physician and coach Rob Orman, MD, explains how to deal with our inner critic so that we can be at our clinical best. He also touches on imposter syndrome and shares tips for dealing with the anxiety that sometimes comes with the territory for emergency physicians. Join host Will Smith, MD, to gain valuable insight from Dr. Orman.

Show Notes

Host

Will Smith, MD

Emergency physician in Northern California
Graduate, Nuvance Health/Vassar Brothers Medical Center Residency
@WTSmithMD | wtsmithmd
EMRA*Cast Episodes

Guest

Rob Orman, MD

Founder and CEO, Orman Physician Coaching
Dr. Orman is the former chief editor of EM:RAP, creator of the Stimulus and ERcast podcasts, and for nearly a decade served as the host of Essentials of Emergency Medicine.

X: @emergencypdx

Overview
Sometimes the loudest voice in our head can be the most negative one. Although that same voice gave us the motivation we needed to get through undergrad, medical school, and the long hours of residency, it can be dangerous if that voice stands unopposed in high-pressure situations when we need to be at our clinical best.

In this 2-part series with host Will Smith, MD, physician and coach Rob Orman, MD, explains how to deal with our inner critic so that we can be at our best. He also touches on imposter syndrome and tips for dealing with the anxiety that comes with some of the situations in which we are often placed as EM physicians.

TAKE-HOME POINTS

Having an inner critic is perfectly normal. Although we cannot control those thoughts, we can control how we respond to them.
As emergency physicians in high-pressure situations, it is important to learn how to not let your inner critic/negative thoughts thoughts take over.
Learning how to ground yourself and come back to your cognitive center will allow you to better tap into your training and experience and make the most logical and appropriate decision.
“Returning-to-Center” can be done in a number of ways:
- Physically taking a step back and thinking about the entire scenario in front of you and coming up with a plan of attack
- Running through a checklist of your next objective to ensure you have all the pieces that will allow you to be successful
Verbally running through a checklist will help lay out your thought process to yourself as well as those working around you so everyone is on the same page. Additionally, if people can't hear you, then it's a good indication that the chaos around you may need to be addressed.
We are the team leader that everyone looks up to when patients aren't doing well. When you are calm, your team will be calm. When you are starting to spin out of control, your team will sense it.

RESOURCES

Bambach K, Hope J. Imposter Syndrome. EMRA*Cast. Published 11/1/20.

Silencing Your Inner Critic - Part 1