Criticized for not participating in group

[rileywulff]

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Hi,

I was recently informed that I have to meet with administration because a preceptor who twice observed our group indicated in my performance review that I didn't participate enough.

I think a meeting with administration regarding this matter is excessive. My review stated I was clearly well prepared for the groups which the preceptor observed and that I demonstrated solid knowledge of the topics discussed (not sure how this was determined if I didn't participate). I have not been admonished for anything thus far in med school and generally have received satisfactory, above-average or excellent reviews.

I'm not really a group-type of learner. I attend all groups, am supportive of others, come well-prepared, but find that generally most groups have 2-3 people who speak disproportionately more than everyone else. I am admittedly an introvert, or at least find the size/structure of our groups too large to feel comfortable enough to have an actual discussion. There are also others in my group who speak less than I do, and there are days I participate more than other days.

I want to stand up for myself to administration but don't want to be confrontational. I also don't want this to be included on my record. I've worked very hard thus far, and to be called out for something so subjective, arbitrary and not representative, seems like overkill and an intimidation tactic.

Any advice on what to say at the meeting?

 

[caliprosth]

So I'm just curious...you are all judged on your interactions with the group and you failed to interact properly? Why not just fake it? Sometimes introverts just need to put themselves out there.

So how are you going to argue or support your argument at the meeting? By saying you're good in everything else but groups? That won't come off too well. I would sweat this, take the feedback and react constructively. You'll be fine.

 

[MilMD01]

It's really not worth a battle to stand up for yourself/get confrontational. Administrators have a lot of power to make your life difficult.

I'd recommend just acting surprised that you were perceived that way. Not really defend yourself.. But say that you're not typically viewed this way and emphasize your team skills in other situations. Finally apologize for any misperception and move on with life.

Trust me, fighting with admin isn't worth it.

 

[jazzmetal]

Sounds unjustified, but try not to let it distract you. Just be matter of fact: ask them for more detail on why the meeting was requested, what it will mean for your record, what their suggestions are for improvement and whether they will require any follow up. Take the attitude that they've called you in because they want you to do well. Then think everything over afterward to see if you have better insight into what's going on. If something seems wrong/off after you've had a chance to process everything, you can decide next steps. You may well conclude that they're just as surprised as you that the preceptor recommended a meeting, that he or she is new to the school or had a bad day, etc. Just try to think of it as a lesson in "office" politics. Learn what you can, then get back to work. Good luck!

 

[Dr.Surgeon]

Hi,

I was recently informed that I have to meet with administration because a preceptor who twice observed our group indicated in my performance review that I didn't participate enough.

I think a meeting with administration regarding this matter is excessive. My review stated I was clearly well prepared for the groups which the preceptor observed and that I demonstrated solid knowledge of the topics discussed (not sure how this was determined if I didn't participate). I have not been admonished for anything thus far in med school and generally have received satisfactory, above-average or excellent reviews.

I'm not really a group-type of learner. I attend all groups, am supportive of others, come well-prepared, but find that generally most groups have 2-3 people who speak disproportionately more than everyone else. I am admittedly an introvert, or at least find the size/structure of our groups too large to feel comfortable enough to have an actual discussion. There are also others in my group who speak less than I do, and there are days I participate more than other days.

I want to stand up for myself to administration but don't want to be confrontational. I also don't want this to be included on my record. I've worked very hard thus far, and to be called out for something so subjective, arbitrary and not representative, seems like overkill and an intimidation tactic.

Any advice on what to say at the meeting?

I hate that dumb group ****. Thank god my school didn't have much of that BS. Talk to the other students and see if they are dealing with the same issues from that preceptor. I would avoid arguing too much with the admin. Tell them you felt like you were doing a good job participating and you've voiced all of your opinions on whatever the discussion was about, but you are willing to work on your participation. That would probably be the best way to go about it. You want to avoid getting on **** lists.

 

[HelpPleaseMD]

Hi,

I was recently informed that I have to meet with administration because a preceptor who twice observed our group indicated in my performance review that I didn't participate enough.

I think a meeting with administration regarding this matter is excessive. My review stated I was clearly well prepared for the groups which the preceptor observed and that I demonstrated solid knowledge of the topics discussed (not sure how this was determined if I didn't participate). I have not been admonished for anything thus far in med school and generally have received satisfactory, above-average or excellent reviews.

I'm not really a group-type of learner. I attend all groups, am supportive of others, come well-prepared, but find that generally most groups have 2-3 people who speak disproportionately more than everyone else. I am admittedly an introvert, or at least find the size/structure of our groups too large to feel comfortable enough to have an actual discussion. There are also others in my group who speak less than I do, and there are days I participate more than other days.

I want to stand up for myself to administration but don't want to be confrontational. I also don't want this to be included on my record. I've worked very hard thus far, and to be called out for something so subjective, arbitrary and not representative, seems like overkill and an intimidation tactic.

Any advice on what to say at the meeting?

like others have said don't fight or argue with the administration. tell them you will incorporate the advice. i hate it when attendings give comments behind your back

 

[baskintheglow]

Appropriate response (insofar as my understanding) would be to let them perceive your surprise at the request, accept potential fault, and ask for resources in return to give you the necessary skills to better approach these circumstances in the future. Then point to the fact that you have been excelling otherwise, and this should help you turn a burden into a blessing. Makes you look all professional and **** and helps with that there professionalism politics.

Either they will drop it entirely and decide you are awesome, or you spend a few hours talking to someone about "appropriate group participation methods" and it gets dropped at that point and they decide you are awesome. No admin wants a doc who is overly defensive and bristles any time they are questioned or criticized. Going about it the above way makes you look like you are more interested in improvement than being right, which is something that is generally praised by anyone in an authority position.

Other more effective methods to approach this at the moment may exist, but they aren't coming to me.

 

[Goro]

Wow! Some faculty member is really over-reacting! To haul you onto the carpet over this???!! You have my sympathies.

My colleagues and I have plenty of team/lab/group exercises and there are always people who contribute more, and those who are wallflowers and don't say or do anything. It's just part of group dynamics. Normally we have our students rate or grade each other so as to single out those who don't pull their own weight.

My advice to you is to

A) bite your tongue
B) keep an open mind
C) try to learn something useful. Medicine is a team sport nowadays.
D) State exactly what you stated below in red.

Let us know how it turns out!

Hi,

I was recently informed that I have to meet with administration because a preceptor who twice observed our group indicated in my performance review that I didn't participate enough.

I think a meeting with administration regarding this matter is excessive. My review stated I was clearly well prepared for the groups which the preceptor observed and that I demonstrated solid knowledge of the topics discussed (not sure how this was determined if I didn't participate). I have not been admonished for anything thus far in med school and generally have received satisfactory, above-average or excellent reviews.

I'm not really a group-type of learner. I attend all groups, am supportive of others, come well-prepared, but find that generally most groups have 2-3 people who speak disproportionately more than everyone else. I am admittedly an introvert, or at least find the size/structure of our groups too large to feel comfortable enough to have an actual discussion. There are also others in my group who speak less than I do, and there are days I participate more than other days.

I want to stand up for myself to administration but don't want to be confrontational. I also don't want this to be included on my record. I've worked very hard thus far, and to be called out for something so subjective, arbitrary and not representative, seems like overkill and an intimidation tactic.

Any advice on what to say at the meeting?

 

[bc65]

I would also advise that in addition to being surprised, be grateful. Tell administration how thankful you are that this was brought to your attention, how much you appreciate the time they took to help you, and that you will participate more vocally in the future.
Then, wipe the brown stuff off your nose and move on.

 

[baskintheglow]

I would also advise that in addition to being surprised, be grateful. Tell administration how thankful you are that this was brought to your attention, how much you appreciate the time they took to help you, and that you will participate more vocally in the future.
Then, wipe the brown stuff off your nose and move on.

Tragically, this. Self-deprecatory behavior is more important the lower on the totem pole you are. I wish it didn't just encourage sycophantic, duplicitous behaviors which would likely do little more than instill resentment in future professionals but generally responding to criticism with "OH YEAH? WELL F*** YOU TOO" generally doesn't pan out too well from my personal observations.

 

[familyaerospace]

They did something similar to me too, you aren't the only one. News flash, I am not a social butterfly. I do what I can.

 

[TheShaker]

Wow! Some faculty member is really over-reacting! To haul you onto the carpet over this???!! You have my sympathies.

My colleagues and I have plenty of team/lab/group exercises and there are always people who contribute more, and those who are wallflowers and don't say or do anything. It's just part of group dynamics. Normally we have our students rate or grade each other so as to single out those who don't pull their own weight.

My advice to you is to

A) bite your tongue
B) keep an open mind
C) try to learn something useful. Medicine is a team sport nowadays.
D) State exactly what you stated below in red.

Let us know how it turns out!

Yeah, we have group members grade each other. Typically, everybody just gives each other full marks regardless of how they perform, unless there's a gunner in the group. None of us feel right about lowering anybody's grade.

 

[atomi]

Welcome to the idiocy that is the new wave of medical education where individual thought and study is punished while loud-mouthed gregariousness is rewarded. You may falsely assume that quiet people like yourself have something wrong with them as you will be directly punished for not being more extroverted in the name of "teamwork." They speak out of both sides of their mouth and while on one hand you learn that humans are unique and have different learning styles, they will tell you that there is only ONE way of learning in medical school that is best: Group learning.

Newsflash. Medicine is a solitary profession. As a doctor in your specialty you are literally the end of the line. You don't get to call a little TBL peer conference and get the group to help you figure out the answer when you are out in the country on your own in your own practice. You are by yourself, and you have to make your decision alone using your own knowledge, and you have to take responsibility for that decision. You're the doctor, you're at the top, everyone else is counting on you.

Unfortunately the medical school administration is so far disconnected from reality living in progressive academic la-la land that they can't see this. The best and brightest MDs don't all of the sudden decide they want to become med school administrators. These are the C students in med school who did things the easy way, now they hardly see patients (if any at all), and spend their days collecting a fat salary with 8-5 non-clinical work touting the virtues of teamwork and groupthink telling you what clinical medicine is like.

It's a joke. Keep your head down, get through it, and tell it like it is when you're on the other side.

 

[Goro]

Must respectfully disagree with my colleague,. Medicine is a team sport nowadays. This isn't some ivory tower ideal or mere fad preached by Deans and Associate Deans; it's practiced by Clinical Faculty.

Newsflash. Medicine is a solitary profession. As a doctor in your specialty you are literally the end of the line. You don't get to call a little TBL peer conference and get the group to help you figure out the answer when you are out in the country on your own in your own practice. You are by yourself, and you have to make your decision alone using your own knowledge, and you have to take responsibility for that decision. You're the doctor, you're at the top, everyone else is counting on you..

 

[jl lin]

Good replies in this thread. Yes. I don't know how you get around the team thing in most areas of medicine in healthcare. There is this required level of social competency. It's in business and other areas too. Many times it can be very highly subjective and even capricious. @Jboss01 and @jazzmetal and @Goro really hit the important points, but so did others. It's tricky. When to talk and when to shut up. OP, honestly I feel for you. Go to this page or something similar and find out what your personality type is most like. This will increase your understanding and may also increase others' understanding of you.

http://www.16personalities.com/personality-types

You'll be some kind of mix of these. I am, and really everyone is.