How to Get an Appraisal That Doesn't Suck

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On this episode

Doctors and healthcare professionals are so busy that they would rather do other things than spend hours working on their appraisals. However, appraisals are a vital part of your medical career. This process allows you to reflect on your past experiences and figure out how to move forward.

Dr Susi Caesar joins us to talk about how you can elevate and enjoy your professional life with annual appraisals. She shares the purpose of appraisals and how they can help you choose the best way forward in your career and personal life. Dr Susi also gives her top tips on what you can do to make this process more meaningful.

If you want to know more about appraisals and how you can benefit from them, stay tuned to this episode.

Show links

Get a FREE CPD Reflection Form when you sign up!

Are you a doctor who enjoys teaching, training and coaching? Send a message to hello@youarenotafrog.com to join our team of doctors for our resilience program.

Find more about appraisals and revalidation with the GMC and NHS

Register for the RCGP Conference 2022

Research by Sarah Marwick in 2017 about red flags of doctors in need of support

Time to Think by Nancy Klein

Top Tips to Make the Most Out of Your Appraisal by Dr Susi Caesar

Contact Dr Susi Caesar via email or on LinkedIn

Reasons to listen

Understand the purpose of appraisals and why you need to take part in it.
Get tips on how you can make a good appraisal.
Find out how your appraiser can help you identify problems, solve them and plan for the future.

Episode highlights

05:55

About Appraisals

11:45

The Misunderstanding About Appraisals

14:25

How to be a Critical Friend

19:46

The Importance of Communication Skills

24:49

Efficient Documentation

33:57

Catching Red Flags

39:52

Burnout Among Doctors

42:51

Dr Susi’s Tips for a Good Appraisal

48:55

Choosing Your Appraiser

51:24

Dr Susi’s Final Tips for the Episode

Episode transcript

Dr Susi Caesar: I think the main problem is a lack of understanding of the basics. What you said at the beginning was — surely your appraisal is a pass-fail, and if you don’t understand it as a quality improvement tool, if you don’t understand it as an opportunity, once a year with a peer, to just stop in a confidential protected headspace and thing, then it’s set up incorrectly from the very beginning. Rachel Morris: We’ve all been there, up till 3am, getting the paperwork together for our appraisal, and wondering if we’ve done enough CPD to pass it.…