This is an all-too familiar scenario for many non-physician providers i.e. Physician Assistants/Associates and Nurse Practitioners. Over the course of my 30 year career, I've found a few things that work effectively. 1. Remain professional and respectful...always...and demand the same in return. 2. Learn to identify the difference between facts and assumptions. Use an evidence-based approach to highlight the facts supporting your position and challenge the assumptions they are using to support theirs. (This is not always easy to do in the heat of a debate) 3. Identify the common goal, state it overtly, and gain consensus. "Can we agree that we both want to improve patient safety, build a better team , reduce employee turnover, etc."

Skepticism is more than welcome if it is constructed on the right basis. For me this is 2 questions in 1. If skepticism is based on data, a point of view, fear... your job is first to identify the source and then to evaluate to see if this is going to help improve your process, a project ... there is usually something to gain from every feedback. If the Skepticism is based on ego your job is not to answer the the feedback you receive, but where it comes from, without falling into the same trap, the ego trap. Then you can dive into the point itself. A rule of thumb for me is to always pause, understand the message your receive, and the emotions hiding behind it. This will help you become a better and more empathic communicator.

Skepticism from a physician? It’s like facing a strong headwind, challenging, but manageable with the right approach. Start by fostering psychological safety, acknowledge their concerns and show you’re open to dialogue. Then, assert your expertise by using cognitive diversity: share relevant data, experiences, and insights that back up your perspective. Stay motivated by focusing on the shared goal, better outcomes for patients, and emphasizing how your expertise supports that. When you lead with respect and confidence, you’ll turn skepticism into collaboration.

When facing skepticism from physicians, it's essential to establish credibility through evidence-based data and clear communication. Engaging in active listening can also help to understand their concerns better, allowing you to address specific points of skepticism directly. Building rapport by acknowledging their expertise and demonstrating respect for their opinions fosters a collaborative environment, which can lead to more productive discussions. Additionally, utilizing visual aids or case studies can effectively illustrate your points and make your arguments more persuasive. Ultimately, the goal is to create a dialogue that emphasizes mutual respect and shared objectives in patient care.

Physicians can be rigid & lack an open mind. After 40 years of practice I have learned to listen to people. The best approach is to find areas of like minded philosophy. Physicians like to focus on evidence-based medicine & science. There are many ways to deal with every problem. The area where physicians lack growth & development is in spirituality and natural earth-based options. When discussing newer age and mind-expanding ideas, do not negate what the physician scientist has been trained to understand, but build on that by helping the physician understand that science requires an open-mind. An example is plant based medications like psilocybin and mushrooms, which may be how we address many psychiatric conditions in the future.