Orthodontists are often high performers and selected from the top of their dental school class. After two to three years of specialty training, we learn a lot and know a lot about growth, development, and tooth movement. Once we graduate, most of us keep up with the latest trends and do our continuing education. When we select courses and learning opportunities, do we focus on what we already know? Do we stretch our comfort zone beyond what we didn’t learn in school and don’t practice regularly?
The Know-it-all
The challenge I see for many doctors is that once you hit your stride, it is easy to get to a fixed mindset, and some doctors get to a closed perspective since we “know-it-all.” We get very proficient and comfortable with how we do things. It is important to become a peak performer. An orthodontic practice needs to gain efficiency, focus internally, and focus on productivity. We need to be experts in what we do. This peak performance allows us to improve what we do. A rigid discipline helps to drive this efficiency, productivity, and effectiveness. It often focuses on the short-term, but it can put an orthodontist at risk. The know-it-all can miss the boat on so many areas of improvement and opportunities.
The Learn-it-all
On the other hand, many orthodontists are looking to improve their practice, gain more education in many areas of practice and develop the mindset of infinite learning—the endless learner shifts from a know-it-all to a learn-it-all perspective. We should embrace the discomfort of not knowing everything that relates to our field. We accept we don’t have to have all the answers.
The infinite learner realizes that the world evolves, and we have many shifts in consumer culture, technology, and professional advancements. What we master today may be less relevant tomorrow. What was a new trend often becomes a common practice. The learn-it-all orthodontist looks at the long-term, innovation, flexible adaptation, and growth. When we focus externally, we can discover more opportunities and learn constantly.
