I can't believe they think I'd

Many physician executives experience a personal jolt as they move to work in a very different relationship with their colleagues. What happens? How can we understand this phenomenon? What can we do to minimize the personal toll so often exacted by the transition to leadership? This paper will focus on these essential questions. The inevitable discomfort encountered during this learning curve, which can last from two months to two years, often comes as a surprise. Many physicians who have been elevated to leadership positions because of their success and interpersonal acceptance, have not had to struggle with this sense of being "a fish out of water" since very early in their professional careers. Unless there is someone in place to reassure and mentor, the resulting confusion can be quite unnerving, resulting in reflex defensiveness.