The FLEX plan is a resilience framework that helps students cope with stress and failure. Here is what each step means:
Failure happens: Students should accept failure as a normal part of learning and life. They should not fear making mistakes but see them as opportunities to improve. For example, if a medical student fails a test or makes an error in diagnosis, they should not give up or feel ashamed but try to understand what went wrong and how to avoid it in the future.
Lean in: This means that students should express their emotions and seek support from others when they face failure. They should not bottle up their feelings or isolate themselves but instead share their struggles and find empathy. For example, if a medical student feels stressed or frustrated by their workload or performance, they should talk to their peers, mentors, or counsellors and get some advice or encouragement.
Elect a positive response: Students should choose how to react to failure constructively. They should not dwell on the negative aspects or blame themselves or others but rather focus on the positive aspects and take action to overcome the challenge. For example, suppose a medical student receives negative feedback from a patient or a supervisor. In that case, they should not take it personally or defensively but rather thank them for the feedback and ask for suggestions on improving.
X-ray means that students should be honest and transparent about their failures and how they cope with them. They should not hide their weaknesses or pretend to be perfect but rather admit their mistakes and share their stories of resilience. For example, suppose a medical student has a personal experience of overcoming a failure or a setback. In that case, they should share it with their classmates or colleagues and inspire them to be more resilient.
Medical students may experience failure while on GP placements in various ways, such as:
Failing to pass an assessment or meet the learning objectives of the placement.
Failing to communicate effectively with patients, colleagues, or supervisors.
Failing to diagnose or treat a patient correctly or in a timely manner.
Failing to cope with the workload, stress, or emotional demands of the placement.
Failing to adapt to the culture, expectations, or feedback of the GP practice.
These failures can have negative impacts on the students’ confidence, motivation, and well-being. However, they can also be seen as opportunities for learning and improvement, if the students use the FLEX plan to cope with them. The FLEX plan is a resilience framework that helps students deal with failure in a positive and constructive way. It consists of four steps: Failure happens, Lean in, Elect a positive response, and X-ray. You can read more about the FLEX plan on this page.
Harvard.edu. (2023). Harvard Business Publishing Education. [online] Available at: https://hbsp.harvard.edu/inspiring-minds/teaching-your-students-to-bounce-back-from-failure [Accessed 23 Oct. 2023].