You’re NOT, “just a doctor”, or a “one-trick pony”!

You DO have a constellation of highly desirable and marketable non-clinical skills.

I’m going to show you a simple way to deconstruct your clinical activities and uncover your transferable skills!

STEP 1. START WITH ONE CLINICAL ACTIVITY YOU ENJOY

Choose a clinical activity that comes naturally to you and you enjoy.

For example, let’s say you enjoy talking to patients about their diagnosis and treatment plan. 

STEP 2. IDENTIFY 3 COMPONENT SKILLS IN THAT ACTIVITY

Most of the activities we do as physicians are composed of a set of complex skills. 

For example, let’s identify 3 component skills within the activity, talking to patients about their diagnosis and treatment plan. 

1. The ability to communicate.

2. The ability to problem solve.

3. The ability to synthesize information.

STEP 3. NOW, GO ONE STEP FURTHER….

Identify 3 sub-component skills for each of the component skills. 

“If I have the ability to [component skill X], then I also have the ability to [sub-component skill 1], [sub-component skill 2], and [sub-component skill 3].

Using our example, talking to patients about their diagnosis and treatment plan:

If I have the ability to communicate, then I also have the ability to teach, lead, and build rapport.

If I have the ability to problem solve, then I also have the ability to analyze, think creatively, and be attentive to details.

If I have the ability to synthesize information, then I also have the ability to explain complex topics in simple terms, perform medical data review, and apply evidence-based medicine to practice.

And voila! Here are 12 skills from: I enjoy talking to patients about their diagnosis and treatment plan:

1. Communicate.
2. Problem solve.
3. Synthesize information.
4. Teach.
5. Lead.
6. Build rapport.
7. Analyze.
8. Think creatively.
9. Attentive to details.
10. Explain complex concepts in simple terms.
11. Perform medical data review.
12. Apply evidence-based medicine to practice. 

You might identify more skills associated with this activity, and you can add modifiers to highlight your proficiency and efficiency.

If you’re clinically active, you’re performing these (and many other) skills all day every day!

You can now create your own examples using activities you enjoy! 

You may also be interested in reading how to translate your clinical skills into non-clinical terms. 

Special thanks to https://joshspector.com for introducing me to this method of uncovering skills.