Thread by @CoryRohlfsen

The 3 most powerful (& liberating) words a #clinicianeducator can use…

“..I don’t know”

Most junior #MedEd faculty will be tempted to avoid them b/c of #impostersyndrome.

I went far too long resisting them but now am free. Don’t make the same mistake I did.

Here’s why…👇

Saying “I don’t know” will…

-Normalize gaps in knowledge – “we can’t know it all” (say it with me 👏)
-Flatten the hierarchy to increase psychological safety
-Increase the collective curiosity on the team to increase dialogue and stimulate learning

and...

-Model a #masteradaptivelearner framework of looking up the answer and asking for help when we don’t know

Since the learning doesn’t stop after residency / fellowship training, we should model this #growth mindset, #masteryorientation, and #lifelonglearning for trainees so it’s part of their #professionalidentityformation.

To make it even more fun, I like to gamify my own gaps by giving out “points” to trainees who teach me something new.

The points add up to absolutely nothing (yes, a cheap incentive) but letting the learners TEACH is a method of cementing knowledge gains.

Finally, saying “I don’t know” invites other team members to be vulnerable about their gaps.

Now not only are your clinical pearls #patientcentered but also #learnercentered.

You meet them where they’re at… wherever that may be!

In summary, humility is beautiful and will make you more effective in #HPE… it’s as easy as 1,2,3.

Let’s say it together, “I don’t know”

Feel good?