Becoming a doctor is a long-term commitment that requires years of focused study and hands-on training. But the rewards of a successful medical career can be well worth this investment. While much of your time as a medical student will be spent mastering factual information about the body, diseases, and treatments, there are other essential skills that should be cultivated throughout your education and beyond.
Skills may differ between types of practice and specialization, but there are universal skills that all medical professionals use. This includes a combination of hard (technical) skills as well as soft skills that fall under three core categories: intellectual, character, and people skills. Honing these skills can set you on track for a successful medical career and also look impressive on your medical school application.
In this article, we’ll explore the top 12 essential skills possessed by successful doctors and give you some expert tips on how to develop them. This will ensure you maximize your potential in the medical world and stay on track for future career success.
Intellectual Skills
Intellectual or cognitive skills refer to the abilities of the mind, as opposed to social skills or personal traits. Here are the key intellectual skills for aspiring medical doctors:
1. Technical skills
While this might seem like a no-brainer, technical skills will form the foundation of your successful career as a doctor so they deserve a mention in our top 12 skills. These are the abilities you need in order to perform your role effectively, including accurately assessing symptoms, diagnosing conditions, clinical skills, interpreting laboratory results, prescribing and administering medication, and delivering comprehensive follow-up care.
The journey to becoming a medical doctor requires commitment and determination, but is well worth the rewards in terms of career satisfaction. Completion of a bachelor’s degree, attending medical school, and completing a residency can take around 10 to 12 years, but this will furnish you with the necessary technical expertise in your chosen field. Due to the rapidly changing field of medicine and technology, it’s also important that you keep your technical skills updated, so you don’t become outdated in your practice.
2. Problem solving and critical thinking
Diagnosis is at the core of medical practice. For this reason, problem solving and critical thinking skills are probably one of the most important skills a medical doctor can possess. Harnessing these skills allows doctors to effectively evaluate patient symptoms, accurately determine diagnoses, and develop appropriate treatment plans, with the end result leading to improved patient outcomes.
While, for much of your medical education you will be simply be told what to think, you should continually cultivate your own perspective and understanding of the medical field based on your own experience. Aspiring medical doctors should therefore seize any opportunities to hone analytical, creative, and solution-oriented thinking, as well as work on their ability to ask insightful questions and always take the approach of being open-minded. Here are some strategies to polish these in-demand skills:
Secure a mentor. Experienced medical professionals can provide guidance and feedback on clinical decision-making, which in turn will sharpen your critical thinking and problem solving skills. Seek out mentors via your academic studies, existing network, or consider completing a medical internship or summer course.
Participate in discussions and debates. Actively collaborating with peers and instructors to discuss medical topics or complex cases encourages critical thinking. When presented with these situations you might need to defend your reasoning, but also consider alternative perspectives, which are attributes of a strong critical thinker.
Build mental models. It is not enough to simply retain isolated medical facts in your studies. Rather you must construct a mental model of how all things in medicine interact and interrelate.
Develop analytical skills outside of medicine: Engaging in activities that challenge cognitive abilities, such as chess, reading, or puzzles like Sudoku, can also help strengthen the brain’s ability to think critically and solve problems effectively.
3. Attention to detail
As the famous idiom states, ‘the devil is in the details.’ Medicine is an extremely detail-oriented field, where even the smallest nuance can have consequences for patients. The best doctors are organized and meticulous in their approach. They remain focused on gathering as many relevant symptoms and pieces of information in order to make an accurate and timely diagnosis, and then deliver appropriate treatment.
Attention to detail is something you can improve by practicing certain techniques. Here are some suggestions:
Time management. Managing your time effectively allows you to stay on track with your workload and avoid any stress. Establishing a work schedule and sticking to this time-based plan can prevent you from cutting any corners.
Minimize distractions. Your cell phone, social media, and WhatsApp chat groups can prevent you from being fully engaged, which is often when errors happen.
Take plenty of notes. Having a virtual or physical notebook will serve as a reference point and ensure you don’t forget anything. But be sure to consult it regularly.
Schedule regular breaks to sustain concentration. Short five to ten-minute breaks throughout the day can significantly improve your focus and productivity.
4. Lifelong learning
Science is always advancing, including new discoveries, new treatments, and new diseases. Staying at the forefront of medical advances allows doctors to provide the best possible advice and treatments to patients, and also paves the way for a successful career following medical school. Aside from completing continuing medical education to maintain your medical license, you can also boost lifelong learning by:
Reading medical journals. Perusing papers will ensure you stay updated on ever-changing standards and guidelines in medicine and also learn about cutting-edge techniques, technologies, and discoveries. An introductory course in statistics will ensure that you are able to scrutinize their findings.
Joining a professional society. Connecting with other medical professionals in your chosen specialty will provide you with an instant network and additional resources for medical knowledge, mentorship, and career growth.
Attending conferences. Attending academic conferences or industry events can enhance your skills and expand your knowledge in the medical sphere. You may even choose to present your own research at these events.
Character Skills
While intellectual skills are crucial for a career in medicine, other characteristics are also important for professional growth and success in the medical field:
5. Determination
Determination is the driving force that will keep you moving forward through medical school and beyond. Medical school involves an intense workload, so you will need determination and self-discipline in order to effectively manage and perform well in your academic studies. Moving forward, your determination will be put to good use as you navigate the challenges of your future career. For example, you may be involved in a complex medical case or be asked to take on a leadership role in a busy medical practice.
Being determined is an essential trait to achieve success in both your personal and professional life, and luckily, it’s a skill that can be learned and developed over time. Having a genuine interest in medicine and a desire to help others in your career will help you to stay engaged and motivated. It’s also important to establish clear short- and long-term goals, and then break these down into manageable tasks to stay on track. Don’t be afraid to ask for support and advice from trusted friends, family, or mentors too.
6. Positivity
A positive attitude from a doctor can greatly boost a patient's mood and offer encouragement during their recovery. Maintaining positivity is also an important skill for doctors, helping them stay confident and composed in challenging medical situations. For instance, when delivering a difficult diagnosis, a positive approach can help keep the patient calm and reassured, while providing them with the vital information they need. While there isn’t a school for positivity, there are still ways you can embrace the ‘half glass full’ approach. Setting small daily goals, making time for hobbies, surrounding yourself with positive people, and thinking positive thoughts are all easy ways to maintain a positive vibe.
7. Integrity
Patients trust medical professionals with their health and well-being, and in turn, medical professionals must trust one another. For this reason, integrity is a vital skill for any medical doctor. Research shows that the ethical domain is of high importance to doctors when considering the ideal qualities and attributes of a good physician. In this particular study, honesty, responsibility, and trust ranked higher than cognitive (technical) skills.
Excellent medical doctors adhere to high personal and professional standards. They maintain professional boundaries and refrain from allowing personal interests to influence any professional decisions. Integrity comes from within, but you can still cultivate this attribute by consistently demonstrating honesty, transparency, and ethical behavior. This means taking responsibility for your mistakes, honoring any commitments, and treating everyone fairly and with respect.
8. Stress management
The demanding nature of the medical profession—including long hours, complex patient cases, and challenges within clinical environments—can naturally lead to stress and burnout. It’s essential to find effective strategies for managing stress outside of work to prevent anxiety and support your mental well-being. But, everybody is unique, so you will need to identify what works best for you in navigating these challenges. Joining a support group can help you tackle the impact of stress and physical exercise is another great stress reliever. For those with a more creative inclination, engaging in some form of artistic expression (art, music, dancing etc.) can also provide therapeutic benefits.
People Skills
People skills refer to the ability to communicate and interact effectively with others. Even if you have exceptional clinical knowledge, lacking strong people skills could hinder your chances of success as a medical doctor. Here are some key people skills to develop:
9. Leadership
The healthcare industry is always evolving, so medical doctors need strong leadership skills in order to continually provide patients and communities with high-quality care. Leadership skills come into play when providing instruction to patients, leading a healthcare team, or overseeing a busy medical practice.
The good news is that wherever you are in your career, you can develop your leadership skills. A good place to start is to reflect on your leadership style, strengths, and weaknesses, and then address any gaps. For example, if you’re an authoritative leader, you may have great decision-making skills, but need to improve active listening. Check with your school or college for tools and resources that can help you assess your leadership style and fill any skill gaps. Other great ways to boost your leadership potential can include engaging with inspiring leaders on social media, securing a mentor, or volunteering to lead assignments.
10. Communication
Doctors spend each working day interacting with patients and colleagues, so communication skills are vital in order for medical professionals to be successful in their roles. The ability to listen to a patient is fundamental. Understanding their symptoms, then communicating with colleagues to ensure the best possible care, ensures a holistic, patient-centered approach.
Research studies consistently rank communication as one of the most important skills of a good medical doctor. After all, a doctor can have the best treatment plan in the world, but if they can’t communicate this to their patient effectively, the care plan is unlikely to work. Aside from honing verbal and written communication skills, other areas to focus on include clarity of language, active listening, the ability to give feedback, and body language.
Here are some strategies for improving your communication skills:
Practice active listening. An engaged listener, who pays attention, and is able to deliver insightful feedback is a core element of effective communication.
Be clear and concise. Nobody enjoys being bombarded with medical jargon; aim to be clear and consistent in your communication to avoid any confusion.
Mirror the other person’s body language. Subtle mirroring of body language can help build rapport, matching posture or tone of voice for example. Always maintain eye contact and use appropriate gestures (nodding, smiling etc.,) too.
11. Interpersonal skills
Strong interpersonal skills, similar to communication skills, allow doctors to build rapport with both patients and colleagues. Showing empathy and compassion to patients is essential for them to place their trust and confide in you as a healthcare professional. Additionally, these interpersonal skills are crucial for collaborating and contributing within a team of medical professionals. Here are some ways to strengthen your interpersonal skills:
Join clubs or extracurricular activities. Interacting with peers who share your interests is a great way to spark friendships and build your people skills. This could range from art clubs, to summer medical courses and sporting activities.
Volunteer. Take the opportunity to help a cause you care about and meet new people through volunteering. Many organizations, such as the Red Cross, advertise local volunteering opportunities online or you could directly contact a local nonprofit.
Community activities. Find out what’s going on in your community and join any interesting workshops, short courses, community projects, or local events.
12. Collaboration
According to the ‘Seven Habits of Effective Doctors’ by Professor Roger Kirby, the sixth habit of ‘synergy’ emphasizes the increasing importance of teamwork in modern medicine. Gone are the days where one doctor makes all the decisions on a patient’s care, now healthcare professionals from various disciplines must work together to deliver an optimal care package.
For this reason, if you plan to pursue a career in medicine, it’s a good idea to enhance your teamwork skills as early as you can. Take advantage of any opportunities to develop your team-focused approach via group projects, team sports, or part-time work. These experiences will provide valuable, transferable skills that you can mention on your medical school application and apply to your future career, including the ability to work with diverse team members and inspire others toward the achievement of a common goal.
Conclusion - Top 12 Skills of Successful Doctors
Pursuing a career as a physician will undoubtedly be a challenge. Hard work and dedication to the care of your patients will always be paramount, along with a personal commitment to your education and lifelong learning. But the sense of achievement and job satisfaction will be profoundly rewarding.
As you embark on this journey, keep in mind that the most exceptional doctors are those who combine their technical expertise with qualities like integrity, positivity, empathy, and determination. Successful medical doctors are also strong communicators, able to build positive relationships among both colleagues and patients ensure optimal medical care. These attributes will empower you to make a meaningful impact and thrive at every step of your career.
If you need additional guidance on pursuing a career in medicine, check out our article on Studying Medicine in the United States versus the United Kingdom. Looking to dip your toes in the medical field? If so, an online medical research internship can also be a great way to explore this potential career path, secure guidance from an expert mentor, and begin developing your skills.