Coaching Tips for EM Education Part 6: How to Make Each Day Your Masterpiece.

Coach Woodenism for the Week: Be true to yourself. Make each day a masterpiece. Help others. Drink deeply from good books. Make friendship a fine art. Build a shelter against a rainy day.

This month we are discussing the second Effort cornerstone of legendary Coach John Wooden's Pyramid of Success applied to medical education. As clinicians, we all have the requisite Attitude and work Effort. Bringing out the best in our trainees, first begins with being the example of these cornerstones.

Last week, we focused on being an example of the team Effort we expect from our trainees. We made the Effort to get to the bedside with our trainees, teach a pearl on every case, and give feedback on every shift. The days when I practiced these tips with my were far better the when I failed to give my best Effort. 

How do we bring our "A" game to the bedside everyday? Joshua Wooden gave his sons severn principles to live by. His son, Coach John Wooden gave these same principles to all his players on business cards. Living the principle "Make Each Day your Masterpiece" helps create the consistent Effort needed for daily success. 

For Coach Wooden, every masterpiece began with careful preparation. Coach Wooden planned every practice to the minute. There was never a wasted opportunity for learning. His players would say that every practice was exciting, even electric. The games were then easy by comparison since every possibility had been prepared for. Our didactics, workshops and conferences require this same level of preparation. Each shift requires the same thoughtful approach as well.  

This week, focus on making each shift your masterpiece. Prepare for your shift on the commute to work by visualizing the events of the shift; team intros, tough cases, teaching strategies, staff and patient interactions, and finally giving feedback after sign-out. Be grateful for the opportunity to practice and teach. Ask for guidance for difficult moments. Visualizing success is used by everyone from top athletes, to our most creative business innovators, and even our nation's elite SEAL teams. Our work in the trench demands this same level of preparation. On the way home, repeat the process from start to finish. This helps us to recover and learn to be better coaches the next day. After a few days, ask your trainees to do the give this a try as well. Make it a great week!

Where to Learn More:
Wooden on Leadership: How to Create a Winning Organization, by John Wooden and Steve Jamison
Coach Wooden: The 7 Principles That Shaped His Life and Will Change Yours, by Pat Williams and Jim Denney.
The Way of the SEAL: Think Like an Elite Warrior to Lead and Succeed, by Mark Devine, and Allyson Machate.