No one enters medicine expecting to land on a performance improvement plan, yet for many physicians, it becomes a disorienting reality. A PIP can feel like both a warning and a test, raising existential fears about career, reputation, and future. Behind the formal language is often a complex mix of organizational risk management and legitimate behavioral concerns. In this episode, we explore what it really means to be placed on a PIP, how to navigate the process effectively, and why resistance is rarely a successful strategy. Finally, we share a structured approach to coaching through a PIP that can turn even the most fraught situation into meaningful professional growth.

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We Discuss:

Understanding the Purpose and Structure of a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP)
Variability and Pitfalls in PIPs
Why Coaching Matters During a PIP
Common Reactions and Emotional Toll
Structural Flaws That Undermine PIPs
Negotiating and Responding to a PIP
The Myth of Performance Immunity
A Coaching Framework for Navigating PIPs
Collaborating With Leadership
Success and Long-Term Impact

Mentioned in this episode:

UnBurnable - Our Cohort-Based Burnout Prevention and Cure Course

As physician coaches, my partner, Scott Weingart, and I have noticed a pattern: some doctors are thoroughly burned out, and some are on the path to burnout. Almost all were shortchanged in their medical training, having been molded into excellent clinicians but given virtually no tools for retaining joy and equanimity throughout their careers. This course will teach you the hidden anti-burnout curriculum.

The UnBurnable Course

5 Free Tools To Make Medical Practice Easier

Scripts for your least favorite conversations. The quick and dirty guide to calling consults. A 10-minute "Driveway Debrief" to switch off from work. My favorite documentation templates. Step-by-step guide for delivering the news of death.

Free Resources Link

July 23rd 2023 | Paul Paino