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nexpected, unprecedented, unparalleled, unrivalled, unbelievable… All adjectives used to describe this year of COVID. Undone, unravelled, unprepared, unsure are just some of the emotions that many of us will have experienced. The rolling events of 2020 shocked us all, forced us to disrupt our habitual routines and jolted us violently out of our comfort zones. We have been asked to consider the answers to big questions such as; ‘What matters?’ and ‘What is worth doing?’ Many of us have even questioned the career that we are all profoundly espoused to. A year of complete career cataclysm with a wave of standdowns as the government directed dental practices to cease elective procedures. A situation that proved incredibly threatening and gyrated into an industrial relations ignominy for a large number of clinicians and practice owners. All of this happened because immediate change was mandated. Change, a seemingly sullied term, conjured up by those who command us all pain and torment. Who wants to change? Who needs to change? Well, we all did. We were not ready, willing or in some cases able. Prochaska and DiClemente first conceptualised a transtheoretical model of behaviour change that silhouettes five stages of change. A model demarcated by phases including pre-contemplation, contemplation, preparation, action and a maintenance phase. There was no time to pre-contemplate the change necessitated, whether you were ready or not- wasn’t important. Resistance was futile, COVID was here, standdowns materialised and the contemplation phase was now overbaked. Action was required. A modification of thought, capability and action was forced upon us all. This threatening situation forced many of us to behave conservatively and become very risk-adverse. Uncertainty makes it arduous to dive into a new venture or further career enhancements. It became apparent though, more than ever, that forging forward with career enhancements was necessary during this time of change and uncertainty. It is with self-reflection, on 2020 – the year of COVID, that an immense feeling of growth, achievement and certain opportunity must allow everyone to focus on re-inventing
“ When you don’t know what the future will bring, or when the path you thought you were on takes an unexpected turn, it makes sense to pursue a diverse avenue of career options as a clinician.”
Nobody expected COVID-19 to have the effect that it did on our world – and is still having. However, there is still a heap of good news coming out of recovery from...
A year of
unexpec Story by Robyn Russell
their careers. If you are like most dental practitioners, you will believe that we are fortunate enough to practice an amazing profession which offers a wealth of opportunity. The challenge for us all lies in the development of this opportunity. Reinventing your career, each and every year, beyond what you originally thought possible. When you don’t know what the future will bring, or when the path you thought you were on takes an unexpected turn, it makes sense to pursue a diverse avenue of career options as a clinician. Looking extrinsically on the dental profession it becomes apparent that most practitioners feel that they are hygienists, dental therapists, oral health therapists, and that this is the precipice of career satisfaction and achievement. The introduction of the concept of a ‘possible’ clinician brings rise to a multitude of prospects.
