A change of perspective
“ We learn not for school, but for life”
Many years ago, I went to a friend’s BBQ. Despite working in an industry that requires you to be open and personable, I wasn’t that interested in meeting new people. I justified it by saying that I spoke with new people all the time and come the weekend, I just wanted to be alone. Unfortunately, social etiquette deemed it rude not to go. Standing in their backyard, I found myself speaking to someone I hadn’t met before but thinking of something else. I knew the question was coming. In fact, I had deliberately held back from asking the same question to avoid the topic. Then it came. I thought I had led the conversation far enough down a different path. I tried to not let the disappointment show on my face when the words ‘So what do you do for work?’ left their lips.
I replied, ‘Im a Physio’.
Photo by Paola Chaaya on Unsplash
Disappointment reads a bit harsh. However, it highlights the frustration I felt knowing that the term Physio was so broad and encompassed so many facets of healthcare. The feeling of disappointment was more a product of my lack of ability to concisely explain to my new acquaintance the complex and diverse nature of my working day. The disappointment was a result of my belief that they would think I massaged backs and talk about patient’s core all day.
On reflection, the disappointment I felt was that the term Physio didn’t tell the full story of who I was or what I did. I also acknowledge that it was more about how I felt about Physio than what I thought a stranger would think. This disenchantment was a result of my inability to provide my new acquaintance with a comprehensive analysis of my role within the healthcare system. My disappointment lay in my weakness to concisely explain my responsibilities in the management of an injured individual within the biopsychosocial model. My frustration sat in the knowledge that despite my skill set, we were still overvalued for our hands-on treatments. It would also be dishonest to not say that some of the angst I felt was due to the inequality of income amongst the healthcare professions.
Photo by Vince Fleming on Unsplash
This frustration had built over the preceding years. I had been frustrated that despite our skill set, we were restricted by the narrow occupational framework that holding a Bachelor of Physiotherapy provided. I had been envious of friends who seem to work in an environment seemingly beyond their undergraduate curriculum. I had begrudged other professionals discussing how they fine-tuned their problem solving, risk analysis, leadership and business development skills. Meanwhile, I continued to treat sore backs and slow to recover shoulders, I was viewed as a massage therapist (compliment accepted, but I’m not that skilled), fended off criticism from my employer for not being busy enough, while weekends were reserved for standing pitch side in the cold.
However, things changed. Things always change. That’s the good thing about things.
A few years ago, influenced by many wonderful discussions with thoughtful, insightful, attentive and inspiring colleagues about some of these ideas that frustrated me, I was motivated to change direction. This direction change wasn’t in the work I delivered, but in my outlook of the work I performed.
Photo by Barn Images on Unsplash
I would no longer see myself as a Physio. I would view myself as a Project Manager. I would look at my skill set and view it from a different perspective. My daily project would be my patient’s recovery. I would become a consultant. I would become a problem solver. I would become a risk analyst. I would become an advocate. My case load was my business and I would be a business development manager. I would become an operations manager as I guided my patients through their rehabilitation. When I wrote a blog for the clinic website, I would consider myself working in public relations.
As time passed, I was able to look back on my Physio education and see the wood for the trees.
Learning how to conduct a subjective assessment was an education in communications, customer liaison management and problem solving to name but a few. Understanding how to best structure and interpret my objective assessment was (and continues to be) an education in project management and risk management. Learning how to design a rehabilitation plan became an education in leadership. I could go on, but you get the idea.
Now seeing the wood, I look elsewhere outside of healthcare to continue my education. Reading business articles, social science books and listening to podcasts with various thought leaders to continue this education.
These days when someone asks me, ‘so what do you do for work?’, I no longer wonder how the person asking will interpret my answer.
Now I proudly answer ‘I’m a Physio’.
To paraphrase Seneca, we learn not for the Physio clinic, but for life.
Join us for our next event at The Physio Social Club Tinto at 7:30pm on Tuesday 23rd July 2020 as we discuss Physio: taking your skills in a different direction.