I’m endlessly fascinated by the continued evolution of humankind and what this means for our careers, and particularly the two forces of longevity and technology. Our longer lives mean that the traditional three stage career:
- education
- employment
- retirement
no longer applies, and the rise of technology is already rapidly changing the shape of medical practice: the last six months have seen an exponential rise in the growth of remote consulting technology which I remember trying to implement 20 years ago in rural Scotland! As machine learning progresses further, more areas of healthcare will be delivered by technology, with scenarios of surgeons operating robots around the world from their bedrooms becoming closer every year.
Our careers will become much more a series of transitions between different career chapters, interspersed with periods of reinventing ourselves. When one chapter starts to draw to an end, it can feel lonely and frightening to realise that what once seemed certain no longer seems to fit or appeal in the same way. It’s also an opportunity to pause and ask who you want to be in the future.
I specialise in medical careers and public health careers, and it is wholly possible to re-energise oneself, finding meaning, purpose and direction. I use a structured 4 step career counselling process, and have helped over 80 senior doctors and public health leaders to move forwards into the future with confidence. The future is of course unknowable, by being strategic in your own life and career you can be agile and adaptable to whatever arises.
Dr Fiona Day (MBChB, FFPH, Dip Occ Med, Executive Coach) is a FMLM approved Executive Coach and works with senior doctors, medical and public health leaders to improve their careers and leadership roles. Find out more at www.fionadayconsulting.co.uk; to explore working with Fiona please book a confidential half hour Career Consultation here.