Top 10 Tips For Success: The Speech-Language Pathologist Edition

If you have been following my Instagram, you know that I love mentoring. It is a part of my previous job that I miss terribly. As a way to fill that void, I have been using social media as an outlet. This not only allows me to share my experiences and advice, but also allows me to connect with other SLPs who are looking for feedback.

This post was inspired by my reflections of late. I've been reflecting a lot since COVID-19 started, but even more recently because August 2020 is my 10 year anniversary as a speech-language pathologist!

I can still hear, clear as a bell, one of my interviewers back then ask me, “Where do you see yourself in 5-10 years?” To that, being fresh out of grad school with the world at me feet, I responded, “I’m going to travel the world!” Needless to say, I did not get that job. Hint: most employers want to hear that you plan to either stay at said job or perhaps you have a desire to achieve a career goal, like a certification or specialization. Lesson learned.

There are many lessons I've learned and invaluable advice I've been given over the years. As a little homage to my 10 year anniversary, I'm sharing with you my top 10 tips for having a successful career as a SLP.

TIP #1: Be A Sponge

We all know that there is an immense amount of information to learn and skills to hone upon graduating and even beginning the clinical fellowship year. I remember being given invaluable advice at that time, which was to be a sponge. It was the best advice I was ever given. And to this day I still head that advice.

So to you, I recommend that you soak in everything from fellow SLPs and other colleagues. You’ll be surprised by how much you can learn from other professionals. There is always an opportunity to learn. I tell people that the day you stop learning, or the day you are no longer interested in learning about this field, is the day you should either retire or make a career change.

For your ongoing learning, and to help you get those CEUs that you need, I've listed some resources for you. They range from free to paid subscriptions. Check with your employer because you may be able to be reimbursed!

Don't forget cultural competency training! This is imperative as we work with people from all backgrounds. Courses may be available through the above links, but do check out the list below for some more focused training and references.

TIP #2: Make Self-Care A Priority

Self-care can take on many forms. My top advice here is to leave work at work and make time for yourself. Even if it’s 5 minutes of meditation or 5 minutes of quiet time with a cup of tea. The field can be challenging itself, but add on life milestones (buying a house, marriage, children, divorce, paying off debt, financial instability) and life can go awry quickly.

Self-care is more than meditation. It's recognizing what you need as an individual to process your life experiences in order to decompress and to be at ease. My self-care routine includes a combination of exercise, meditation, engaging in hobbies (gardening, graphic design, cooking/baking, learning about places I'd like to travel to), journaling, and spending time with my family.

This is my go-to guided meditation. It takes only 5 minutes to do!

TIP #3: Find Your Balance

Remember that you are more than an SLP. Your life should have balance. Practice that from the beginning. Keep engaged in your hobbies.

My journey through therapy helped me to figure out how to balance my life. Life milestones triggered my anxiety. I remember having a panic attack on my honeymoon in Hawaii and then I had both postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety between both of my pregnancies. Dealing with these episodes on top of figuring out how to balance being a mom, a wife, and have a career was, and sometimes still is, a tumultuous experience for me. I have found peace through therapy and giving myself grace.

I highly recommend that if you feel like you are struggling, seek the help of a therapist. Sometimes an unbiased opinion and a space to let out your emotions can be just what you need.

TIP #4: Explore Opportunities

This is what I recommend to everyone. Explore any and all opportunities presented to you. Is your employer offering to send you to a training? Go! Are you being offered an opportunity that will allow you to take the next step in your career? Take it! Don't go through your career stuck on the hamster wheel. Take advantage of new opportunities because, as I stated above, we are always learning in this field. You also might end up liking an area you previously would have dismissed!

TIP #5: Diversify Your Skill Set

Diversify your skill set from the beginning. This is important if you aren’t sure of where you want to work. It will give you a diverse background, which many employers look for and will put you at an advantage if you are looking to change the setting you work in.

Unsure if you want to work with pediatrics or adults? Try to find a company to work for where you can be contracted out so that you can gain that experience. For example, you might work part time in early intervention and then part time in a skilled nursing facility. Another example could be working part time in an outpatient clinic and part time in acute care. If you can't find a company that offers this consider full time in the schools and then a per diem job at a skilled nursing facility.

The bottom line is you want to explore all of your options so that you can figure out where you want to work. After all, we want to enjoy our jobs. We are fortunate to be in a field that allows us this flexibility.

TIP #6: Find A Solid Mentor

I have heard that some people are unsuccessful with finding a mentor whom they connect with and can trust. If your assigned mentor at your job is not cutting it, there are a myriad of options for you, ranging from free to paid memberships! If you do not want to go this route, there are plenty of Facebook groups where you can ask questions, and perhaps even find a mentor that's a good fit for you.

Some options include:

Communicate Anew (shameless plug for myself)
The Medical SLP Collective
Unleashed Innovation Coaching (formerly Empowering Speechie Mentoring)

Mentorship for private practice is also available!

TIP #7: Be Flexible

...and be a team player. Learn to collaborate effectively and efficiently with your coworkers. This will not only make work more enjoyable, but your clients will reap the benefits because they will receive quality care.

Now let's think about this from an administrative perspective. Is a coworker out? Offer to fill-in. Did a coworker leave and you're interested in exploring a new area? Offer to be the replacement. Do you have the opportunity to be a floater? Try it out! This will be a way for you to diversify your skill set (see tip #5).

TIP #8: Speak Up

Once you get your feet wet, you'll know when to speak up and how to do so. What am I referring to? Anything and everything.

Speak up if...

You have a challenging case so that you can determine a solution.
You observe or suspect unethical practices.
You are unhappy.
You have an idea of how to improve processes and procedures.
You have an idea of new programs.
You observe or suspect discrimination.

This is important especially If you want a leadership role. By knowing when and how to make your voice heard is a skill that employers like to see. A leader is able to assess group dynamics and use emotional intelligence to guide their colleagues and build trust in them. Want to learn more about the difference between a leader and manager? Check out this article in Forbes.

TIP #9: Reflect Often

Check in on yourself often. This includes how you are doing at work AND how you are doing as a human being. See tip #2 if you need a reminder.

If you’re unhappy or frustrated, explore those emotions. Is it your job or something else in your life? If it’s your job, what can or can’t you control? Do you have the opportunity to leave? Work through these questions with your mentor. If that isn't cutting it, consider working with a therapist or life coach. Often times an unbiased listener is helpful in this situation.

Remember to reflect on what is negotiable and non-negotiable as far as your career goes. This may help you to figure things out.

TIP #10: Know Your Worth

...and know what you want out of your career. Set goals for yourself and make a plan to achieve them. Don't accept a job that if offering you less than what you deserve. Advocate for yourself, and always, always negotiate!