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6 Moves6 chapters · Practice

Talk to Your Doctor: Get Heard in a Short Appointment

Framework: 6 Moves - one per moment in and around the appointment

chapters
1.Before You Go2.Describing Symptoms3.Asking the Question That's Worrying You4.When You Don't Understand5.Getting a Clear Plan6.When You're Not Satisfied★ Practice
chapters (6)
1.Before You Go2.Describing Symptoms3.Asking the Question That's Worrying You4.When You Don't Understand5.Getting a Clear Plan6.When You're Not Satisfied★ Practice
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Chapter 1Free preview

Before You Go

The moment. You've got one short appointment and three things on your mind, and you're worried you'll forget the important one.

What most people do

Wing it, start with the smallest issue, and remember the real worry as they're being shown out.

Why it misfires. Appointments are short, and doctors set the agenda in the first minute. If you open with the minor thing, the big one gets rushed - or never comes up at all.

The rewrite

"I've got three things, but the main one is this chest pain when I climb stairs. Can we start there?"

The move: lead with your main concern. Before you go, write your top concern in one line and say it first. Naming your agenda up front is the single biggest thing that gets you heard.

Your turn

Write the one-line version of your main concern, the way you'd say it in the first ten seconds.

Edge cases. If you truly have several issues, say so at the start - "I have three things" - so the doctor can pace the visit instead of being ambushed at the door.

This week

Before your next appointment, write your main concern as a single sentence.