How coachable are you?

When this popped up on social media it struck a chord and got me thinking about dentists and how coachable we are.

How many of us are as coachable as Travis?

We may not be professional athletes, however, we are professional learners.

Being coachable is a crucial skill, especially in a field like dentistry where learning never truly stops. These are some of the attributes that help make someone coachable:

1. Humility

   Being open to feedback and recognising that there’s always more to learn. Humility allows you to receive constructive criticism without taking it personally.

2. Curiosity

   Staying genuinely interested in improving and growing. Curious people ask questions, seek out new insights, and actively look for ways to get better.

3. Self-Awareness

   Understanding your strengths, weaknesses, and areas for growth. Self-awareness helps you identify when and where you need guidance.

4. Resilience

   Willingness to embrace challenges, setbacks, or even failure, as part of the learning process. Resilient individuals see feedback as a tool for improvement, not a reflection of inadequacy.

These attributes foster a mindset that values growth and continuous improvement, making the journey of mentorship much more rewarding.

It’s easy to criticise employers for not providing effective or helpful mentoring. Mentoring is a partnership and the mentee needs to be the driver and open to learning.

If you’re starting out on your dental career I’ve created the Young Dentist’s Toolkit to help smooth out the bumps. It’s filled with helpful templates to document your procedures, create a standout application and cheat sheets.

Rosie