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Attitude sets ultimate boundaries of success
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Success as an orthopedic surgeon is often associated with factors such as surgical skill and ability to communicate with patients. Behavior we develop through our education sets the foundation for accomplishments during our professional career.
Hard work and persistence are key factors and we apply ourselves rigorously to steadily improve. It can be disappointing to realize it is usually the orthopedic surgeon’s attitude that sets the ultimate boundaries of professional and personal success.
Scarcity mindset
Surgeons who believe risk-taking is dangerous and fail to push themselves beyond a comfort zone will focus on what is unavailable and what does not work. They may resent others’ successes, impart barriers to open competition and fail to make decisions to impart positive changes. This scarcity mindset leads to thoughts and decisions that affect all relationships, and inevitably, creates a false ceiling on success.
When the scarcity mindset is embedded in leadership, the characteristics can affect the entire organization. Decisions become less about the group and more about individuals. Guidelines ensure the leadership can maintain status quo and protect achievements. Unfortunately, this leads to an increased burden for others, usually younger members and members nearing the end of their careers. Leadership that protects its “turf,” however, loses its ability to use the synergistic value of the entire practice to grow and compete with larger organizations. This behavior reassures that resources are scarce, and a protectionist attitude is most appropriate.
Abundance mindset
However, orthopedic surgeons who live by the abundance mindset perceive resources are plentiful and focus on positively harnessing resources to accomplish their goals. Efforts are made to ensure good relationships and teamwork, and to provide an environment for everyone’s success. Competition is acceptable and encouraged, but in a healthy manner with true sportsmanship guiding the behavior. The success of one is celebrated as there are plenty of rewards for all. The abundance mindset does not have a low ceiling on future accomplishments.
Leadership with an abundance mindset establishes a shared vision to focus on sustainable relevance in health care. Orthopedic surgeons have a primary role in the determination of what is the most valuable way to deliver high-quality musculoskeletal care. The focus is on “what works” and “what can be done better.” Resources are pooled, and the group’s value is emphasized. The synergistic nature of the collective effort leads to accomplishments beyond what a single member can achieve. Market relevance, surgeon leadership and governance and encouraging success lead to a unique culture that avoids burnout and frustration.
The current challenges of value-based musculoskeletal care affect everyone. The perception is health care is too expensive and does not deliver outcomes equal to that of other developed countries. There have been numerous efforts to restrict resources, which fuels the perception that resources are limited, and one should be cautious in risk-taking. The scarcity mindset builds in protection and barriers to maintain the status quo of today and fails to develop a plan for the resource allocation of tomorrow.
People with the abundance mindset realize the best opportunity is to create a dynamic and influential team that provides care relevant to the market. This will not only reduce overall cost, but also redistribute resources in favor of the team. An abundance mindset provides the best opportunity for sustainable, healthy and successful careers.
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- Anthony A. Romeo, MD, is the Chief Medical Editor of Orthopedics Today. He can be reached at Orthopedics Today, 6900 Grove Rd., Thorofare, NJ 08086; email: orthopedics@healio.com.
Disclosure: Romeo reports he receives royalties, is on the speakers bureau and a consultant for Arthrex; does contracted research for Arthrex; receives institutional grants from MLB; and receives institutional research support from Arthrex, Ossur, Smith & Nephew, ConMed Linvatec, Athletico and Wright Medical.