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They say working with people is one of the most rewarding and challenging career choices one can make. The reality is that we all need to improve our communication skills and ability to interact with others. What is more, almost any job in this world requires human interaction to a certain degree.
In this article, you will learn about the top 5 soft skills that can highly improve your success in your future medical career and increase your chances of becoming highly acclaimed in a field of your choice. If you already know what you are supposed to bring into your daily interaction with patients, check out these Florida physician jobs and make the most of your dedication to healthcare by pursuing your vocation.
1. Empathy
Having the ability to tap into one’s feelings and guess the emotional state of those around you is crucial for a future physician. Dealing with people in critical health situations requires you to understand their pain and sometimes nurture their feelings.
Many studies dedicated to the role of empathy in medicine have concluded that this is mandatory in helping people get better. At the same time, too much empathy might interfere with your ability to keep functioning when you have to attend to other people’s needs. That is why you have to practice this soft skill with caution.
2. Active Listening
As a physician, both in clinical practice and in an ambulatory care system, you will have to deal with many patients of different ages and cultural backgrounds. Therefore, you must learn how to actually listen to their problems and get a quick grasp of what is bothering them. An in-depth interview requires great listening skills and knowing what and when to ask your patient.
3. Nonverbal Communication
Tourists and international students are amongst the most frequent type of patients that require medical attention. However, they might have difficulties expressing themselves once they get to the doctor’s appointments.
According to research, actual verbal communication only amounts to 7% of the total communication volume that people exchange when they talk. Therefore, it might be a good idea to get extra knowledge about body language and non-verbal messages to be better equipped for an international encounter.
4. Interpersonal Skills
Keep in mind that not all persons working in a hospital have an academic medical background. Some staff members might be engineers, chefs, or baristas. They all interact differently, and you can learn enormously from each professional in your office. This can help you develop your negotiation skills and learn how to be a true team player.
5. Emotional Intelligence
Training your emotional intelligence is a mandatory task if you want to improve your ability to become a great physician, be admired for the care offered, be patient-focused, and be a team player.
Maybe you don’t value one’s emotions too much, or you are used to keeping a rational approach in all your endeavors. There’s nothing wrong with this type of attitude towards life, except, working with vulnerable people can make you open up about your own vulnerabilities. It also helps create a better relationship with your patients that tend to look at doctors as if they have superpowers.
Our well-being is deeply connected to how we manage our emotions and how we cope with stress and crisis situations. Although doctors are supposed to take harsh, rational decisions, it might be wise to sometimes show your human side as well.
Final Thought
These 5 soft skills are more than beneficial to any future doctor or an already practicing physician in any field. Human nature continues to evolve, and so does a doctor’s role in the medical environment and society. If you want to expand your abilities and manage a bigger team, soft skills will help tremendously. Any of these is a true asset to your CV and personal behavior as well.
You may also like: 7 Great Reasons for Starting a Medical Practice
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