Try Not to Take Feedback Personally: A Key to Professional Growth

A recurring theme among new grads and younger clinicians is the tendency to take patient feedback personally. While understandable, this habit can hinder professional growth and personal well-being.

Accepting Feedback is Challenging

Let’s face it: not every patient gets better. Some may feel your recommendations lack value, while others might simply have a negative experience. This happens to every clinician, regardless of experience level. Even after nearly a decade of practice, I’ve had patients who chose to seek care elsewhere. For instance, one patient recently decided to leave because she didn’t like our business model involving rehab aides. It stings, but it’s part of the journey.

Responding Constructively

How you respond to situations like this can make all the difference in your mindset and motivation. When faced with negative feedback, you have two options:

1. Take it Personally: Let it impact your self-esteem and cloud future interactions with patients and colleagues. This path often leads to frustration and a lack of motivation.

2. Use it as an Opportunity: Acknowledge the feedback, reflect on what you can learn from it, and apply those lessons moving forward.

The choice is yours. From experience, the second approach is far more empowering and sustainable.

Turning Feedback into Growth

Here’s a personal example: When the patient mentioned above decided to leave, I reflected on the situation. I realized I could have asked more questions to build trust rather than assuming it would automatically come with a direct referral. I also could have explored her existing exercise regimen more thoroughly and adjusted her experience with our rehab aides to better suit her expectations. These insights became lessons for the future, not reasons for self-doubt.

Steps to Handle Feedback Effectively

1. Pause and Reflect: Take a step back and remind yourself that you did your best with the knowledge and tools you had.

2. Focus on Growth: View the feedback as a learning opportunity rather than a personal attack.

3. Make Adjustments: Consider what you could have done differently and apply those lessons in future cases.

4. Stay Professional: If a patient decides to leave, wish them well and genuinely hope for their recovery. Maintaining professionalism reinforces your integrity.

Building Confidence Through Reflection

Every feedback moment is an opportunity to improve and grow. By reflecting on patient interactions and extracting lessons, you’ll:

• Enhance your clinical skills.

• Develop greater resilience.

• Build internal confidence to handle future challenges.

Negative feedback doesn’t define you. How you respond to it does. Embrace it, learn from it, and watch your professional and personal confidence soar.