Doctor 10 years isn't a happy camper! I hear him say; I just don't have enough time - I need a vacation....again! He goes on to say; I'm not this, I need to do better at that, I've hired a consultant who is helping with job descriptions and systems. They're sort of working. I'm always worried about earning enough. I don't have enough time. Something is missing and I don't know where to turn. I care. I try to give people my all. I set aside 3 hours for this one patient and they stood me up... that's how I get paid back?
In my view Doctor 10 years doesn't need more clinical skills right now, nor focus on his weaknesses for it will surely lead to further evaporation of is sense of self and true joy. He does have strengths; question is what are they.
There are some bigger questions for Doctor 10 years. Currently, he's focused on how to be a dentist; rather than why he chose to be a dentist and how he wants to be known as a professional. The frustration and demoralization he's experiencing has more to do with him not working as he is. That is, there is a compromise in who he is (his values), the market he's serving rather trying to serve and all he's getting is some financial reward but it isn't doing it for him.
Doctor 10 years could benefit from a behavioural compass so that he's not broad sided with the surprise of a person not delivering on their promise and instead have some predicability. It's no fun getting broad sided day in and day out by patients and staff and feel like you're the one who has the problem. Doctor 10 years is suffering in the black hole of no values. He doesn't really know his, can't articulate them to his team or patients. So the insurance tail is wagging the dog and making Doctor 10 year a tooth mechanic which burns his soul when he knows there is more he could do...much more.
