A High Performing Learning Physiotherapist
High performance means different things for different people. We know this from having asked “what does high performance mean to you?” to over 110 guests on our Irish-based educational and self-development podcast, ‘Sleep Eat Perform Repeat.’ It does appear to be consistently seen as a lifestyle choice. There is no off switch. You are either a high performing individual in your respective field - or you are not. You need to be confident looking in the mirror at the end of the day having been accountable to yourself and others, consistent and reliable.
Physios that are high performers usually have fundamental control over who they are as human beings, and how they choose to develop themselves – to streamline and give full agency over whatever it is they want to have full agency over. But - ultimately, it comes down to the outcome you want as a learning physiotherapist too. Where do you want to be? How do you want to be seen? Do you have a dream role? Why this? Why that?
A learning physiotherapist with an ambition to be deemed a high performing one must back themselves…and constantly be looking to develop and evolve. They should be highly self-aware and mindful of how they work at their absolute best…and in what situations will let this happen. Ben Lyttleton, author of ‘Edge’, defines high performance as “getting the best out of your own talent and being keen to improve yourself…it comes down to the individual – it’s about an individual who wants to improve; be engaged in your development process!”
Setbacks are opportunities to learn and get better for learning physios – as Confucius once proclaimed, “Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in getting up every time we do”. Failures and mistakes are part of learning – just aim to not repeat them. Use them to improve yourself. They are valuable.
Habits that spark positive behaviour are at the heart of high performing learning physiotherapists – they seek knowledge. Reading is a daily exercise. Seeking mentorship and like-minded physiotherapists fall into this space too. Understanding motivation and how to lock into high levels of it are essential ingredients to feed this type of organism, to turn a skill set into a success. Thomas Edison once said that “if we did the things, we are capable of, we would astound ourselves”. Keep pounding the rock. Keep the work ethic. Embrace the grind and always hustle. Aristotle said, “pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work”.
Learning physiotherapists who are striving to improve each day have a growth mindset. They believe in an ability to improve. Regularly step outside your comfort zone and challenge yourself. Be hungry for challenges and push yourself to the edges to reap the benefits.
Find your own leadership style that suits you. Learn from leaders, alive and dead. Take pieces of them with you and forge your own blueprint. Use positive self-talk to prime yourself to be the best version of yourself in your personal and professional physio life – use affirmations to replace any doubt and negative self-talk.
There are many parts to being a high performing learning physiotherapist. Pick one and start today. Start now. Be accountable to yourself. “You will never plow a field if you only turn it over in your mind” - an old Irish proverb.
#learnandgiveback