We all have likely seen or even experienced some form of complacency, in life and work.
In the current workforce, it seems to be creeping into every kind of business from the bottom all the way to top-producing executives.
Complacency can become a form of self-destruction. It can lead to stagnation, lack of motivation, and reluctance to accept new challenges. It can not only be detrimental to your productivity, but also damaging to your mental and emotional state.
It’s important to realize that complacency is a dangerous trap, and that you need strategies to keep it from negatively affecting you and your practice.
Here are 6 ways to combat complacency in work and life…
1. Recognize and adjust your mentality.
People will do one of two things: they will either succumb to this complacent state, making excuses, justifying actions or their behaviors, or they will realize they oversee their own circumstances, attitudes, and actions. Don’t allow yourself or others around you to settle for complacency as the new normal.
2. Know your commitments.
What is on your calendar in 2023? Here at the Scheduling Institute, we practice and teach that having commitments on your calendar dedicated to focusing on growth and new ideas for the year is as important as scheduling personal time off to stay rested and rejuvenated. Make sure this can’t-miss event is on your calendar—Practice Growth Summit!
3. Focus on the result you are responsible for.
You should have your goals set for the year. To feel like you are succeeding, we recommend taking your yearly goals and breaking them down by quarter, then by month, then by day. Your mind likes to see progress, so make sure you measure it and celebrate wins along the way.
4. Do things that benefit you.
When you are feeling off-kilter or out of focus, what do you do? Think about what truly brings you back to feeling like yourself—or the best version of yourself. As a doctor and business owner, you juggle a lot, and it’s normal to get off-balance. But it’s important to make investments in yourself, whatever they may be, and to create habits of doing things that benefit you. It is critical to your mental well-being.
5. Evaluate the emotional bank accounts of the people in your life.
An emotional bank account is a system of emotional deposits and withdrawals that helps build—or destroy—personal or work relationships. When an emotional bank account has more deposits than withdrawals, the people involved have a mutual trust and respect. When there are more withdrawals, the opposite happens. Take a hard look at your relationships. Where do you need to up your emotional deposits? And who, in turn, should do the same for you?
6. Assess your engagement level in each role you serve.
By using our Engagement Scale, rate your level of engagement in every role you currently serve. Think about all the many hats you wear in your professional and personal life, including any from parent to sibling, child, mentor, coach, and many more. Based on each rating, where do you need to up your focus, attention, or engagement? Are there areas in your life that need to be eliminated? This exercise allows you to realize and up your engagement where you need to.
Another great way to avoid complacency: Get outside the box to network, learn, and have an experience away from your practice surrounded by likeminded doctors and experts in your field. We invite you to break away from your day-to-day and join us at the ultimate event of the year—Practice Growth Summit, Las Vegas! Hope to see you there…
