--- title: Physician Burnout to Physician Wellness - One Doctor at a Time | Dike Drummond MD description: Stop Physician Burnout, Build Better Physician Leaders | The Happy MD --- [![Stop-physician-burnout-dike-drummond-physician-leadership-you-can-banner-11-5-2018_opt995W](https://www.thehappymd.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Stop-physician-burnout-dike-drummond-physician-leadership-you-can-banner-11-5-2018_opt995W-1.jpg?width=995&height=146&name=Stop-physician-burnout-dike-drummond-physician-leadership-you-can-banner-11-5-2018_opt995W-1.jpg "Stop-physician-burnout-dike-drummond-physician-leadership-you-can-banner-11-5-2018_opt995W")](https://www.thehappymd.com) ## **The Creative Destruction of Physician Burnout ** [![prevent doctor burnout matrix](https://hubspot-no-cache-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/263814/da1e787d-095f-4485-9d4d-9a9bc4195d86.png)](https://hubspot-cta-redirect-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/redirect/263814/da1e787d-095f-4485-9d4d-9a9bc4195d86) ## Dike Drummond MD ### Recent Posts # [Physician Burnout PROOF Operating System - Rule #1](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/physician-burnout-proof-operating-system-rule-number-one) Posted by [Dike Drummond MD](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/author/dike-drummond-md) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://www.thehappymd.com/hubfs/BPOS%20Library%20COVER%20ON%20SALE%20NOW.jpg) ](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/physician-burnout-proof-operating-system-rule-number-one) Your Quality of Life is at stake here. Tags: [physician gratitude](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/topic/physician-gratitude), [gratitude journal](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/topic/gratitude-journal), [gratitude box](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/topic/gratitude-box) [READ MORE NOW >>>](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/physician-burnout-proof-operating-system-rule-number-one) # [Every doctor needs a Gratitude Box like this](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/every-doctor-needs-a-gratitude-box-like-this) Posted by [Dike Drummond MD](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/author/dike-drummond-md) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://www.thehappymd.com/hubfs/GRATITUDE%20BOX.jpg) ](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/every-doctor-needs-a-gratitude-box-like-this) Gratitude is so very important to your career as a physician. Our gratitude for the skill and abilities to make a difference for a patients. And our patient's gratitude for us when we've made a difference in their lives. That inbound thank you from a patient is always met with a wave of reciprocal gratitude coming from our heart back in their direction. A simple thank you from a staff member or colleague, and especially from a patient or family member, can go a very long way in easing the burden of the daily grind. Oftentimes this comes in a verbal thank you. And often times were too busy to soak it in, which is why recreated the [what-to-do-when-a-patient-says-thank-you training.](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/stop-physician-burnout-what-to-do-when-a-patient-says-thank-you) Every once in awhile somebody goes out of the ordinary, writes you a note or sends you an email. You can save that precious text for when you need it most. Pull it out, sit down after the shift is done and take your time reading it over and over, smiling, sometimes crying, always so grateful. For those times when a patient or family member puts their thank you down in words, I recommend you keep or print out those messages of gratitude and support in a special box. Let's call it a *Gratitude Box* [G.Box]. Keep it close at hand. Tags: [physician gratitude](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/topic/physician-gratitude), [gratitude journal](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/topic/gratitude-journal), [gratitude box](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/topic/gratitude-box) [READ MORE NOW >>>](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/every-doctor-needs-a-gratitude-box-like-this) # [What doctors really think about the US healthcare "system"](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/what-doctors-really-think-about-the-us-healthcare-system) Posted by [Dike Drummond MD](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/author/dike-drummond-md) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://www.thehappymd.com/hubfs/USHEALTH%20SURVIVAL%20SURVEY%202.jpg) ](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/what-doctors-really-think-about-the-us-healthcare-system) I ask every doctor the same question. Whether they're seeing patients all day or sitting in boring board meetings, I always ask the same thing. And I always get the same answer. It's kinda depressing actually. Here's what I ask: "Is our healthcare system totally screwed?" Like...are we gonna fix this mess? Or is it gonna collapse like a house of cards first? I've asked this question hundreds of times. Doctors in small towns. Big city specialists. Hospital CEOs.  They all say the same thing. [But I want YOUR take on it.](https://forms.gle/ocEiWoRHJkYH54Ty9) So I made a super quick survey. Takes like 3 minutes. It's anonymous so you can be brutally honest. I want to know if you think we can save this thing. Or if we're all just waiting for the apocalypse. [>>> Click here to take the 3-minute survey](https://forms.gle/ocEiWoRHJkYH54Ty9) I'll share the results with everyone next week. Should be interesting to see what we're all really thinking. Fair warning...some of the responses might shock you. Talk soon, Dike "is the system broken" Drummond MD P.S. If you're a physician leader who's tired of dealing with all this chaos, let's chat. I help docs become better leaders without losing their sanity. [>>> Book a free discovery call here](https://calendly.com/dikedrummond/dike-drummond-30-min-leadership-discovery) Tags: [us healthcare system collapse](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/topic/us-healthcare-system-collapse) [READ MORE NOW >>>](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/what-doctors-really-think-about-the-us-healthcare-system) # [2 Leadership Power Questions For Laser Focus on Physician Wellness](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/2-leadership-questions-for-laser-focus-on-physician-wellness) Posted by [Dike Drummond MD](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/author/dike-drummond-md) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://www.thehappymd.com/hubfs/Wellness%20power%20Questions.jpg) ](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/2-leadership-questions-for-laser-focus-on-physician-wellness) ## Protecting the Front Line When You Are Not the Boss These questions work like magic because *they force administrators to think about the human cost of their decisions without being confrontational.* Simple, open ended question that *interrupt the usual rush to maximize profits and remind everyone to think about the people implications of every decision.* In this blog post, I'll show you *two power questions* that can safeguard the health and well-being of your colleagues in the front lines—especially if you are often *the only doctor in the room *in senior leadership meetings. When you became a leader, I know you didn’t go over to the dark side. You’re not Darth Vader. These questions confirm your position as a guardian and protector of the front-line doctors and nurses every time you use them. Add them to your wellness leadership toolkit and get ready to use them early and often. Tags: [physician wellness](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/topic/physician-wellness), [Physician Leadership](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/topic/physician-leadership), [quadruple aim](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/topic/quadruple-aim), [physician wellbeing](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/topic/physician-wellbeing) [READ MORE NOW >>>](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/2-leadership-questions-for-laser-focus-on-physician-wellness) # [RED ALERT: US Rural Healthcare at Risk: The Medicaid Cut That Could Collapse the System](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/red-alert-us-rural-healthcare-at-risk-the-medicaid-cut-that-could-collapse-the-system) Posted by [Dike Drummond MD](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/author/dike-drummond-md) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://www.thehappymd.com/hubfs/rural%20healthcare%20collapse.jpg) ](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/red-alert-us-rural-healthcare-at-risk-the-medicaid-cut-that-could-collapse-the-system) A Collision Course Between Policy and Reality In this post, I will reveal to you an impending collision of ~~ a chronic problem in the American health care system ~~ and a current piece of legislation in front of Congress that could destroy local hospital access for 56 million people in the USA in a matter of months. This is a long-term weakness of the US healthcare system and a short-term budgetary philosophy that could end up in disaster. Let me show you where these two trends intersect and what might happen if they do. Check it out. Tags: [medicaid crisis](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/topic/medicaid-crisis), [rural hospital crisis](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/topic/rural-hospital-crisis) [READ MORE NOW >>>](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/red-alert-us-rural-healthcare-at-risk-the-medicaid-cut-that-could-collapse-the-system) # [Direct Primary Care (Concierge) Practice Opportunity in Williston Vermont](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/direct-primary-care-concierge-practice-opportunity-in-williston-vermont) Posted by [Dike Drummond MD](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/author/dike-drummond-md) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://www.thehappymd.com/hubfs/UmairMalikDPC%20Ad.jpg) ](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/direct-primary-care-concierge-practice-opportunity-in-williston-vermont) Direct Primary Care (Concierge) Practice Opportunity in Williston Vermont Join a Practice Where You Practice Medicine, Not Paperwork. by Dr. Umair Malik, CEO and Founder Tags: [Concierge medicine](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/topic/concierge-medicine), [Direct primary care](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/topic/direct-primary-care), [Physician job opportunity](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/topic/physician-job-opportunity) [READ MORE NOW >>>](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/direct-primary-care-concierge-practice-opportunity-in-williston-vermont) # [Eliminate the Fear of FAILURE With This Awareness Hack](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/physician-leaders-eliminate-the-fear-of-failure-with-this-awareness-hack) Posted by [Dike Drummond MD](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/author/dike-drummond-md) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://www.thehappymd.com/hubfs/no%20failure.jpg) ](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/physician-leaders-eliminate-the-fear-of-failure-with-this-awareness-hack) ## Fear of Failure Holds Us All Back Naturally and Automatically We are hardwired to be creatures of habit. Our reticular activating system is always scanning the horizon looking for danger. This creates the bubble of safety we call our *comfort zone.* As doctors, we have a number of comfort zones. Your personal comfort zone when you're away from work is one. At work, you have a comfort zone inside the boundaries of your specialty - the things you're comfortable doing with patients and the things you aren't (many of which are due to previous bad outcomes). In order to keep us safe, we have a cognitive bias against doing anything new. We stay inside the protective walls of our personal comfort zone at work and at home. > The boundary guard of our comfort zone is fear of failure. > > If we do something new it might not work out the way we planned. > > We've learned to understand that as *FAILURE*, and avoid it at all costs > > At the same time, all of us are constantly reaching for new goals and learning new skills. Check that ... All of us *aspire to *reach new goals and learn new skills. > > Fear of failure can bring any outside-the-comfort-zone excursion to a screeching halt. > > Things might not work out the way we planned. It's risky. I haven't got time for that. So ... we default to just getting busy again. > > And as a doctor, you can always find something to get busy with. *The Whirlwind* is complicit in reinforcing the walls of our comfort zone. In this post, you'll discover a way to redefine failure, to eliminate it completely from your vocabulary and your life experience at work and at home. It's a very simple mental exercise for scientists like you and me. You see ... anytime you do something new, it's just another experiment - like the ones we did as undergrads. Let me show you how this *mind flip* works so you can stretch your boundaries, learn new skills, reach new goals and enjoy the ride. Check it out. Tags: [Physician Leadership](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/topic/physician-leadership), [fear of failure](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/topic/fear-of-failure) [READ MORE NOW >>>](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/physician-leaders-eliminate-the-fear-of-failure-with-this-awareness-hack) # [The 10-Minute Weekly Habit That Supercharges Physician Leadership](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/the-10-minute-weekly-habit-that-supercharges-physician-leadership) Posted by [Dike Drummond MD](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/author/dike-drummond-md) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://www.thehappymd.com/hubfs/Gratitude.jpg) ](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/the-10-minute-weekly-habit-that-supercharges-physician-leadership) ## The Surprising Power of One Simple Weekly Practice In this post, you'll discover perhaps the single most powerful leadership catalyst. - It increases your power and influence and effectiveness as a leader. - Increases your team's engagement and enthusiasm for your shared work - It's just one thing that you do once a week, takes about 10 minutes - And it's been research proven to make a massive difference in both your experience as a leader and your team's experience of your leadership. It'll help you be more empathetic, more positive, more generous, more open-minded and more appreciative—and to more easily and naturally share that appreciation. Tags: [Physician Leadership](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/topic/physician-leadership), [Gratitude](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/topic/gratitude) [READ MORE NOW >>>](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/the-10-minute-weekly-habit-that-supercharges-physician-leadership) # [Multitasking Makes You Stoopid - Use This Pearl Necklace Technique for Focused Productivity](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/multitasking-makes-you-stupid-use-this-pearl-necklace-technique-for-focused-productivity) Posted by [Dike Drummond MD](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/author/dike-drummond-md) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://www.thehappymd.com/hubfs/Multitasking.jpg) ](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/multitasking-makes-you-stupid-use-this-pearl-necklace-technique-for-focused-productivity) ## The Multitasking Myth - And Why It’s Makes Everything Worse Quick question: do you think you're pretty good at multitasking? You can do two or three things at once? In this post, you'll discover why that's simply not true. Multitasking is not possible at the level of neurophysiology. "I* can do two things at once*" is an illusion with massive downside. Any extra task you add to the one you're doing right now makes you stupid - it cuts the quality of your performance in half. Let me show you what to do instead. Give up multitasking. Use *the Pearl Necklace Technique *to maximize your productivity* *and actually *improve the quality of your work*. Check it out. Tags: [Physician Burnout](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/topic/physician-burnout), [Physician Leadership](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/topic/physician-leadership), [multitasking](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/topic/multitasking) [READ MORE NOW >>>](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/multitasking-makes-you-stupid-use-this-pearl-necklace-technique-for-focused-productivity) # [Physicians - Stop Answering Your Team's Questions to Become a Better Leader](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/physician-leadership-how-not-answering-questions-makes-you-a-better-leader) Posted by [Dike Drummond MD](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/author/dike-drummond-md) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://www.thehappymd.com/hubfs/Stopanswering.jpg) ](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/physician-leadership-how-not-answering-questions-makes-you-a-better-leader) # How to Build a High-Performance Team: Stop Answering Every Question ## The Counterintuitive Leadership Skill That Changes Everything In this post, you will discover a little-known and slightly controversial leadership skill set that goes like this: - **Do not answer every single question your team members bring to you ** - **AND do not say yes to all of their requests for your help** Let me show you how to avoid the trap of making your team dependent upon you - by *not answering* all the questions they bring to you. It'll free up your day. It'll help you be more effective. It'll help increase the initiative and capabilities of your team overnight, all of you will get home sooner without working harder when you pick up this habit—and it's totally against typical doctor programming. Check it out. Tags: [Physician Leadership](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/topic/physician-leadership) [READ MORE NOW >>>](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/physician-leadership-how-not-answering-questions-makes-you-a-better-leader) [All posts](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/all) [Next](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/author/dike-drummond-md/page/2) ## **Find what you need here...** ## **We wrote the Book on Preventing Burnout** The first Field Manual to a more Ideal Practice - **40,000 copies in print. ** [**CLICK HERE to learn more and get your copy**](https://support.thehappymd.com/stop-physician-burnout-book) [![stop-physician-burnout-book-dike-drummond-40000_opt200W](https://www.thehappymd.com/hs-fs/hubfs/stop-physician-burnout-book-dike-drummond-40000_opt200W.jpg?width=200&name=stop-physician-burnout-book-dike-drummond-40000_opt200W.jpg)](https://support.thehappymd.com/stop-physician-burnout-book) ## **The Burnout Prevention MATRIX 2.0 FREE Report** **Over 235 ways to prevent physician burnout inside.  **[**CLICK HERE to learn more and get your FREE copy**](https://support.thehappymd.com/physician-burnout-prevention-matrix) [![Physician-burnout-prevention-MATRIX-report-6000-downloads_opt.jpg](https://www.thehappymd.com/hs-fs/hubfs/images/NEW%20HOME%20IMAGES/Physician-burnout-prevention-MATRIX-report-6000-downloads_opt.jpg?width=200&height=175&name=Physician-burnout-prevention-MATRIX-report-6000-downloads_opt.jpg)](https://support.thehappymd.com/physician-burnout-prevention-matrix) ### **Prevent Burnout** **~**  [Physician Burnout – Why It’s NOT a Fair Fight](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/bid/295048/Physician-Burnout-Why-its-not-a-Fair-Fight) **~**  [Physician Burnout Symptoms Differ in Women and Men](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/bid/294952/Physician-Burnout-Presents-Differently-in-Male-and-Female-Doctors)**~**  [Physician Burnout's Highest and Best Use ](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/bid/378959/Physician-Burnout-Highest-and-Best-Use)**~**  [Pathophysiology and Treatment of Burnout](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/bid/290248/Physician-Burnout-Pathophysiology-and-Treatment-of-Burnout) **~ ** [Physician Wellness - Two Ways to Tell If Your Group Cares](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/bid/290377/Physician-Wellness-How-to-tell-if-Your-Group-Cares) **~**  [Burnout vs. the Bottom Line - the Epic Battle ](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/bid/349242/Physician-Burnout-Vs-the-Bottom-Line-the-Epic-Battle)**~**  [Physician Burnout - Who Will Save Us? ](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/bid/381680/Physician-Burnout-Who-Will-Save-Us) ### **Physician Leadership** **~**  [3 Reasons Doctors Make Lousy Leaders and What You Can Do About It](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/bid/290715/Physician-Leadership-Skills-3-Reasons-Doctors-Make-Poor-Leaders-and-What-You-Can-Do-About-It) **~**  [Monthly Staff Meeting Power Up and Team Venting process](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/bid/290401/Physician-Leadership-Monthly-Staff-Meeting-Power-Up-and-Team-Venting-Process) **~**  [Employed Physician's Guide to Managing Your Boss ](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/bid/369921/Employed-Physician-Guide-to-Managing-Your-Boss)**~**  [Disruptive Physician's Toolkit](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog/bid/285327/Disruptive-Physician-Toolkit) #### **"Changed my toxic work situation" ** *"I started to feel better about my life within a couple weeks of beginning our conversations. I knew that I had an ally and friend. I realized that my feelings were predictable based on my circumstances, that I was “normal”. For the first time in years I had real hope that things would change for the better. * *We worked together to find and interview for a new position in the worst job market for my specialty the recruiters have ever experienced. With Dike’s help and persistent positive attitude, I found a new position at a group that really cares about the doctors and I start in two weeks. * *For me, the program has been worth everything. It has enabled me to emerge from my depression, change my toxic work situation, improve my home and family life, and allow myself to be happy and realize that I deserve to be happy.” * **~ Anonymous MD** [![Physician-burnout-prevention-discovery-session](https://hubspot-no-cache-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/263814/cc0b1858-fb1c-4ed3-98e5-4c4f10706093.png)](https://hubspot-cta-redirect-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/redirect/263814/cc0b1858-fb1c-4ed3-98e5-4c4f10706093) - [Home ](https://www.thehappymd.com) - [Blog ](https://www.thehappymd.com/blog) - [About](https://www.thehappymd.com/about-the-happy-md)   - [ Contact ](https://www.thehappymd.com/contact) - |  - [Republish Articles](https://www.thehappymd.com/the-happy-md-content-network-signup-r)   || [Privacy Policy](https://www.thehappymd.com/privacy-policy) | [Terms of Use](https://www.thehappymd.com/terms-of-use) | [Anti-Spam Policy](https://www.thehappymd.com/anti-spam-policy) ||   **© TheHappyMD.com all rights reserved**