We were lucky to catch up with Laura Ostofe recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Laura, thank you so much for joining us today. There are so many topics we could discuss, but perhaps one of the most relevant is empathy because it’s at the core of great leadership and so we’d love to hear about how you developed your empathy?
I truly believe that most people are born with an innate ability to empathize with others; for some, that is a large component of their being and for others, a very small part of who they are. Developing my empathy has most certainly come as a result of life experiences, some wanted and some unwanted. In saying this though, the most substantial element in my growth and development has been a desire to be more like those around me. I have been incredibly fortunate to have grown up in a family that was filled with love and support. My grandmother was the kindest person I ever knew and watching her instinctively and intrinsically care for those in her life, her family and her community was like taking a master’s course in empathy and compassion. I learned from her that being an active listener is far more important than speaking my peace. I learned that being an active listener also allowed me to be reflective of other’s situations; it enabled me to truly try to understand and appreciate how situations and moments could make someone else feel, think and do. I also learned that helping to make someone feel happiness would always give me more happiness, pride and purpose than anything else. As a practitioner, some may dissociate from their patients as a coping mechanism to endure years of things tugging at their heart; for me, opening my heart to their thoughts, feelings and fears is the only way I know how to not only do my job, but to feel like I have made a difference by doing my job.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I am starting my 18th year of practice as a Doctor of Chiropractic. Chiropractic is a unique profession, because in so many ways, it’s built on a dichotomy of philosophies and theories, as well as practice styles. I have often wanted to provide the disclaimer of “I am not that kind of chiropractor” when people have asked me about my career or when I am communicating with other doctors. It was because of this feeling that I wanted to start my own practice and ensure that I could do it my way.
I wanted to provide a space for patients to feel heard, cared for and treated like family. I wanted a clinic space that provided calm, honest and empathetic care, without sales pitches, assembly-line treatments or fear tactics. I wanted an office where you were greeted by name, everyone welcomed you and made you feel like you are number one, not one of many. I wanted a clinic that was respected by the other practitioners in town, to have a reputation of providing care that goes above and beyond and for being a practitioner that other doctors wanted to work with. Holistic care, for me, means that my patients are cared for: mentally and physically; and, that they can have the peace of mind to trust that they are.
My happiest moments at work are when I come out of my office and see patients, who are perfect strangers, communicating and laughing like old friends, because they feel like they are at home when they come to our clinic. This is the sound of success to me!
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
1) My education: I have 9 years of post-secondary schooling focused on attaining my Doctor of Chiropractic. I have read thousands of pages, sat through hundreds of hours of lectures and practiced for years to garner my knowledge in health, psychology, anatomy, physiology and chiropractic. Without my education and studies, I would not be able to educate my patients or diagnose and treat their conditions.
2) Work Ethic: as a textbook first-born child, I am a perfectionist and overachiever. I have always set goals and worked until they were achieved. At a young age, I lived away from home and trained for 30 hours a week in gymnastics. I learned very early in life that there are a lot of people that are willing to work hard and if I don’t work hard, or even harder than them, I won’t be able to achieve what I want.
3) Support: My family has always stood by me and supported my dreams and aspirations. My husband, who was my fiancé when I started my practice, worked 16 hour days to afford our mortgage and bills, so that I could put us in significant debt and open my practice.
I am not sure that I would be where I am without these three factors and I imagine that it would be very difficult to succeed without knowledge, a work ethic or support from those around you; however, believing in yourself is all the support you may need, knowledge is power and “the only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary.” – Vidal Sassoon
How would you spend the next decade if you somehow knew that it was your last?
I love my career. I love being a part of my patient’s lives. I love feeling like I make a difference and improve people’s lives, health and well-being. If I am healthy and of sound mind, I could never fully walk away from that. It gives me purpose and pride. However, if I only had a decade to live, my children and my family would be where and how I would spend the majority of my time. I would take more time off work. We would travel more. We would make more memories. But, I hope that part of my legacy is that I cared – for everyone. And, I would want my kids to see that I did that, until my dying days.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.activehealthassociates.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064666934597
- Linkedin: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/dr-laura-ostofe-a67ab69
