As we approach the end of what has been a busy year for most of us in dentistry, I feel it imperative to take time for some self-reflection. You don’t need to put aside hours and hours, but simply making a point to consciously deliberate the past 12 months is beneficial. This train of thought could and should cover a number of areas, from personal achievements to professional development and business growth.
The point of this reflection is not solely self-congratulatory – although meeting goals, fulfilling ambitions and overcoming challenges should certainly be acknowledged and celebrated. It is also an opportunity to identify areas in which to focus changes for the future. For many, such an activity can help shape the next 12 months and bring about positive growth. Below are some questions to ask yourself…
Personal reflections
- When did I feel at my happiest or most content in this past year? When did I feel at my saddest or more frustrated? What was happening and how might I encourage more or less of this next year?
- How would I score my physical health this year? What one thing can I do to improve it for 2025?
- How would I score my mental health this year? What one thing can I do to improve it for 2025?
- How well did I balance work and home commitments? Do I need to make changes?
Professional reflections
- Did I meet my professional/career goals for 2024? What contributed to this?
- How happy am I at work in terms of the types of dentistry I provide, the diversity and volume of my workload, and the practice I work in?
- What have been the most rewarding and most challenging moments of my job this year?
- How happy am I with my skills development and career progression this year?
- Have there been any specific patient cases I found difficult and why was that?
- Did I make the most of the learning and networking opportunities available to me?
- What would I like to change or further build upon for next year?
For all the practice principals out there, you may wish to add a third set of reflective questions. These might consider whether your business has fulfilled its targets this year; how happy your team has been and what your staff turnover has been like; how healthy your profits have been; and how strong relationships with other companies or visiting professionals have become.
The aim of these questions is to recognise progress and look to the future with greater clarity. Where you have faced adversity, the start of the new year can represent a fresh start. If you have achieved your goals, identifying what made this possible can help to maintain momentum. Whether we are hoping to do more of the same in 2025 or we wish to revolutionise how we live and work, this reflection is important for us all.
