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Kicking The Can Down The Road | How to break up with deciding not to decide

May 20, 2024

The podcast discusses the common behavior of 'kicking the can down the road' in medical decision-making. They explore the reasons behind on-shift procrastination and provide strategies for overcoming it. Topics include recognizing decision deferral, managing decision aversion, pre-loading accountability, and building decision-making resilience.

29:53

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Quick takeaways

Recognize moments of decision deferral in work or life for improved outcomes.

Address procrastination by embracing discomfort, creating clear decision pathways, and taking action steps.

Deep dives

Recognizing Procrastination Patterns

The podcast discusses the concept of 'kicking the can down the road' which refers to delaying decisions or avoiding problems in the hopes that they will be easier to deal with in the future. This behavior is highlighted as temporary avoidance rather than a solution, often linked to procrastination. Listeners are encouraged to recognize moments of indecision in their work or life where decisions are being deferred despite having sufficient information to act.

Introduction

4min

Efficiency Course for Clinicians and Deferred Decisions in Clinical Shifts

3min

The Paralysis of Decision-Making

11min

Navigating High-Level Thinking and Decision-Making

3min

Navigating Decision-Making Challenges in Medicine

5min

Confronting Decision-Making and Procrastination

4min

"Kicking the can down the road" is a common behavior that manifests in various ways, from delaying difficult patient decisions to avoiding complex tasks. We explore the reasons behind on-shift procrastination and strategies for overcoming it. Our discussion includes practical steps to recognize and address decision deferral, techniques for managing aversion to some decisions, and pre-loading accountability. We also highlight the importance of building decision-making resilience and creating systematic pathways to streamline the decisional process.

💡 Check out our Free Resources specifically designed to address pain points in medical practice💡

We Discuss:

What does it mean to kick the can down the road?
How procrastination shows up on a clinical shift
Why does procrastination happen?
It doesn't take much dread for can-kicking to occur
Avoidance Awareness
Decisional Interrogation
Kicking the can because deciding will set off a cascade of more work
Avoiding the infinite test of time
Identify how, when, and where you’ll make high-level decisions
Long term guests | How is it that decisions can finally be made when the shift is over?
Chunking
Zero in on your critical decision points
Kicking the can at work: pick one thing and identify YOUR decision points
Preloading accountability
Perfectionists get caught in a tree when they're actually in a tunnel

Mentioned in this episode:

1 on 1 Physician Coaching

I work with physicians to help them flourish in medical practice. If you're feeling stuck, burned out, or in trouble at work because of communication or conflict, check out our FAQ page for more info. Ready for real change? Book a discovery call. It’s free, low-pressure, and will give you clarity on your next steps.

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4 Free Resources specifically designed to address pain points in medical practice

Scripting your least favorite conversations. The Driveway Debrief. My 4 favorite documentation templates. The quick and dirty guide to calling consults.

Free Resources Link

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