Expectations about what is likely to happen in a certain situation can lead to frustration and unhappiness for you as a busy doctor.
Perhaps you are feeling very cross because someone hasn't done something you'd expected them to do.
You hadn't actually told them what you wanted from them and yet you believed they would know instinctively what it is you want from them.
Do you recognise this scenario? Maybe you complain that you waited a long time and they have not done this or delivered that.
You had an expectation which wasn't met by the other person.
Do you realise that they may not know or even understand what your expectations were? Mind reading is an art most of us haven't mastered, so it is vitally important to explain clearly what you want.
In the same way, if someone is angry about something you apparently aren't doing, you may feel confused and wonder what they are upset about because as far as you know you have done whatever you thought needed to be done.
Take a deep breath, then ask calmly, 'what were you expecting from me?' We all do this: have expectations from others and then think 'well it was obvious what I wanted' when actually it wasn't so obvious to the other person and so they don't fulfil our expectations.
Suppose you are worried about someone and wonder what you could do to help them.
Take a moment and ask them 'What can I do for you?' rather than assuming what they want.
You could apply principle too when you see a patient who seems to have a hundred and one problems and you can sense your blood pressure rising as they tell you more and more.
Where can you start? You could turn to the patient and say 'What would you like from me today?' Perhaps all they want is something quite straightforward rather than an answer to all of their life's problems.
You can breath a sigh of relief and deal with their current expectation of you.
Think about your expectations.
They are quite often assumptions we make without proof.
Do you expect that you will always have to take work home with you because you can't fit it into the working day? If that is what you expect that is what is likely to happen.
Instead you could expect to finish at a reasonable time and so you organise your day and your work to fulfill that expectation.