The 10-Minute Weekly Habit That Supercharges Physician Leadership

Posted by Dike Drummond MD

The Surprising Power of One Simple Weekly Practice

In this post, you'll discover perhaps the single most powerful leadership catalyst.
  • It increases your power and influence and effectiveness as a leader.
  • Increases your team's engagement and enthusiasm for your shared work
  • It's just one thing that you do once a week, takes about 10 minutes
  • And it's been research proven to make a massive difference in both your experience as a leader and your team's experience of your leadership.
It'll help you be more empathetic, more positive, more generous, more open-minded and more appreciative—and to more easily and naturally share that appreciation.

The Science-Backed Ritual That Changes Everything

Hello again. Dr. Dike Drummond here coming to you from our home in Seattle, Washington, home of TheHappyMD.com, and welcome to the next edition of the Stop Physician Burnout Podcast. Thank you so much for your time and your energy and the very few minutes you need to devote to this lesson.

I want to tell you about something you've probably heard before—but you probably don't do: a research-proven tool that changes everything. Of course, I'm talking about a gratitude journal.

We talked about gratitude and saying thank you to your people in the last episode. We talked about focusing on appreciation of who they are as a person, rather than just recognition of milestones and actions they take. But you know what? The people who are most appreciative are the people who generally see life in a more positive mindset—those who focus on the good things, the glass half full.

And isn't it easy in the overwhelm and whirlwind of your workdays to drop into that pessimistic mindset? We have to pull ourselves out at regular intervals.

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Gratitude Journal Keys to Maximize Personal Benefit & Leadership Impact

Let’s talk about what research has shown to be the most effective way to experience and record your personal gratitude with the events of your life and how you feel as a person. I'm going to borrow from the work of Robert Emmons from the University of California, Davis.

His research shows that if you document—meaning write down with a pen on paper—three to five things that you're grateful for in your life once a week, you're experiencing the optimal practice of gratitude.

NOTE: This is not a daily habit requirement. Actually, it's less effective if you write down the things you're grateful for every day. How could that be true??

Because the frequency of a daily ritual can so easily become just one more task in your busy schedule.

If you try to do it daily, you might find yourself saying, "Oh man, I gotta do my gratitude journal too? It just never ends." Sound familiar?

So—three to five things, once a week, written by hand. Neuroscience confirms this has the greatest impact.

Tips for Deeper Gratitude Practice:

  • Don’t go through the motions. Be intentional and heartfelt.

  • Go deep and wide. When you journal something you're grateful for, write down how it makes you feel. Where do you feel it in your body? Re-experience that sensation of gratitude in the moment. Take a breath and soak it in before moving on.

  • Focus on people. More than just things or actions, focus on the people you're grateful for.

  • Imagine life without it. What if this person, thing, or event wasn't in your life? Notice the contrast.

  • Note surprises. What surprised you this week in a positive way? Surprise often deepens the sense of appreciation.

  • Remember: More is not better. Weekly is more powerful than daily.

 

One Word That Makes Your Gratitude More Powerful

Dr. Emmons also suggests that you associate each thing you're grateful for with the word gift. A gift, a blessing that you relish, savor, and re-experience.

When you practice this weekly habit:

  • You feel more generous.

  • You become more empathetic.

  • You express more appreciation to your team.

  • You lead from a place of positivity and joy.

You’ll lead from the best version of yourself—more patient, more human, more connected.

Gratitude journal. Three things. Once a week. Go deep. Feel it. Call them gifts.

Keep Breathing and have a great rest of your day.

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What are you grateful for right now?

 

 

Tags: Physician Leadership, Gratitude