Getting Things Done Without Exerting Your Authority
“In the corporate sector, there’s plenty of opportunities to do what you want, provided you’re able to provide proof that your plan will work. I get to do what I want without exercising my role as a doctor, without having to say “I am a doctor! You need to listen to me.” In none of my roles in the corporate arena have I needed to exert my authority and I have been able to complete my tasks successfully. It’s a very powerful feeling” says Dr. Alvin.
Being a Know-it-all Doesn’t Help
It’s crucial not to give the impression that you’re a know-it-all in the corporate world. This is simply because the person sitting next to us or in front of us may actually know more about a topic than we do. The best approach is always to keep an open mind.
When conversing at a corporate function and someone says, “You’re wrong!” the best approach is to humbly acknowledge the statement, that is, of course, until we’re proven right! Asserting one’s idea on the basis of entitlement for being a doctor does not go down well in the corporate world, adds Dr. Alvin. A doctor is more likely to be given the benefit of a doubt if he/she admits, “I do not know. But I’ll find out” rather than pretend to know and be unable to deliver on a project.
“As a doctor, you might be knowledgeable about healthcare structuring, but corporate structuring and financial structuring are probably not your strengths. So, strive to keep learning and gaining new knowledge every day by opening your eyes and your ears” advises Dr. Alvin.
Beware the Sharks!
The “sharks” in the corporate world are nothing like the other “beasts” a doctor might have encountered in clinical service. So, beware of them. Be careful about what is shared and with whom it is shared. Because in a matter of hours, the competition will steal your ideas if you’re not careful, leaving you to work overnight to come up with a quick counterproposal to head off the competition.
The truth is, in the corporate world people will saunter into your gathering, eat your food, and drink your liquor and steal your ideas. And they do it smiling at you the whole time without a hint of criticism directed towards you!
When Being Opinionated Pays Off
Being opinionated in the corporate world is not a bad thing. Every doctor is able to comment on the Covid-19 pandemic but without a doubt, the doctor who elucidates on the secondary impact of Covid-19 stands out. For example, how has Covid-19 impacted the economy or the psychology of consumption. Such opinion must be formulated with education.
Your Discipline and Your Punctuality are your Assets
Among the most important assets that doctors bring to the corporate world are their discipline and punctuality. No matter how late or how tiring it can be, doctors know how to push through and complete tasks. When there’s a certain event that one must be present at, a doctor, especially a junior member of the corporate team, is expected to show up on time and stay until the event has ended. They are expected to toe the corporate line.
Doctors’ medical education has taught them to be punctual and to complete a given task no matter how tiring or late it can get. Such training makes a doctor appealing to the corporate world.
It is Disruptive Doctor’s (DD) sincere hope that doctors who want to transition to the corporate world have gained some insight on transitioning and succeeding in the corporate world.
