After spending four years working with a mission organization in Bolivia, pediatrician Joe Sherman, MD returned to the United States in 2009 and says he quickly became overwhelmed by demanding expectations and a culture that, according to him, promoted perfection.

Not surprisingly, he experienced burnout and began to question whether medicine was the right career choice. He turned to a therapist, who suggested he read Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation.

It’s a book that encourages readers to move away from chasing an idealized version of themselves and toward a life of harmony with their authentic strengths, limitations, and values.

“I read it and thought, ‘This is the story of what’s going on with me right now,’” Sherman says. “I started to regroup and understand myself a little better.” 

The book’s author, Parker Palmer, also founded the Center for Courage and Renewal, a nonprofit leadership and personal development organization. The nonprofit provides retreats and other programs to help people reconnect their inner values with their professional and personal lives.

Sherman attended two of these retreats and then decided to become a facilitator so he could help physicians confront emotional fatigue. 

He believes physicians are particularly vulnerable to burnout. That’s because they frequently struggle with feeling like they have to always appear outwardly confident, even when they don’t have all the answers. 

“This need to maintain a flawless professional persona really causes a lot of internal conflict for physicians,” says Sherman. “A lot of physicians struggle with self-doubt and even imposter syndrome.”

Sherman says this internal conflict continues to intensify as physicians strive to keep pace with rapid technology and clinical advancements while simultaneously meeting the administrative demands of insurance companies. “The pressure on doctors nowadays is the worst it has ever been,” he adds.

Patient expectations have also increased. “Patients have much more access to clinicians through the portal,” says Sherman. “There’s more pressure on physicians to live up to a higher standard.”

The solution for how to prevent healthcare burnout is complex, but Sherman believes it begins with authenticity. And that when physicians express their real values, emotions, and perspectives at work, they experience greater meaning and less internal conflict.

“Part of it is admitting to yourself as a doctor that you can’t do it all. You’re not going to be right all the time. You can’t please everybody,” he says. “You also need to take care of yourself as you’re taking care of other people. The other part is being authentic and saying what you need, including saying ‘no’ and knowing your limitations and boundaries.”

Another important element of how to prevent healthcare burnout is fostering more authentic relationships with patients.

Being open and honest with patients — and affirming the important role they play in their own healthcare — can significantly improve the patient experience while simultaneously reducing physician burnout.

“It’s ok to let patients know that you don’t have all the answers,” he says. “At times, you could even ask patients what they think is going on. Enlist their opinions. Sometimes patients are intimidated, but I think encouraging them to share ideas and ask questions can be very valuable.”

The same is true for being more authentic with staff and colleagues. Sherman notes that greater transparency opens the lines of communication — creating a more collaborative work environment that ultimately promotes a resilient business. 

“The more physicians invest in team unity and solidarity, the better the care that patients receive,” he adds. 

When physicians become more authentic at work — and extend themselves greater grace — they can show up for patients in more meaningful ways.

And Sherman says the benefits extend beyond physician well-being.

“If you’re a better listener and communicator and more empathetic, then you’ll have better patient adherence and compliance,” says Sherman. “Your patient satisfaction scores will improve. Better listening can also lead to fewer errors and fewer malpractice claims. And when you’re listening and getting more information from the patient, you’re less likely to order unnecessary tests.”

Sherman encourages physicians to think of empathetic communication as a competitive differentiator and offers several practical tips:

Ultimately, one of the most overlooked aspects of how to prevent healthcare burnout is self-compassion.

“Give yourself what you need in the moment,” he adds. “Care for yourself and tell yourself that you’re doing the best you can. It’s about giving yourself what you give everybody else every day.”