Instead of pointing a finger, hold out your hand. This statement combines two familiar “hand” metaphors. The first is that when we have one finger pointing out at someone else, three others are pointing back at us. The second is a reference to reaching out to another person to be of help. It is usually better to open the hand. It is easy to point a finger at what is wrong, who is at fault, what could…

If you want to understand why a nurse, tech, or frontline clinician stays, struggles, or walks out the door, don’t look at the org chart. Look at their direct supervisor. And in healthcare right now, that relationship matters more than ever. Gallup’s research shows that roughly 70 percent of the variance in team engagement traces back to the manager. Persistent staffing shortages and burnout mean we can’t afford to lose people an organization has already…

Leaders often underestimate how loudly their silence speaks. Even when you think you’re holding it together, your team is reading every micro-shift in your face, posture, and tone. They feel your stress long before you ever name it, and their performance responds accordingly. The Problem Most leaders believe they can “power through” frustration, pressure, or anger without anyone noticing. You tell yourself you’re being professional, staying quiet, and keeping the train on the tracks. Yet…

I recently had the opportunity to present at the American Hospital Association’s 2026 Leadership Summit. The theme of this year’s gathering was (Re)Designing Care Delivery and Operating Models for the Future. The event brought together hundreds of healthcare executives to explore innovative solutions for value-based care, capacity management, and a sustainable workforce. The theme of “(Re)Designing Care Delivery” reminded me of our approach over the past few years of “Rewiring”…not just change for change’s sake, but thoughtful…

Recently my grandchildren, whom I call the “littles,” taught me an important leadership lesson. We were walking along a beach without any beach toys, shovels, or fishing gear. They really wanted to go fishing, and my response was, “We can’t; we don’t have any bait or fishing poles.” The littles heard a design problem: If we can’t get to the fish, we will bring the fish to us! Immediately they decided to build a reservoir.…

When we feel anxiety or fear, our brains trigger a response that has been proven by science, a conscious or unconscious choice of fight or flight. We all have a default, and we owe it to ourselves to know our default. I know mine; it is fight. I tend to run toward a challenge rather than run from it. If you are a healthcare executive, you likely have the same default. Flight, or retreat, is…

A quiet truth runs beneath many of the most meaningful moments in healthcare: What people need most is not always clinical expertise…it is human presence. When I was young and working my first job as a graduate nurse, I cared for a 15-year-old girl who was hospitalized with pneumonia. I had no idea that a brief interaction with her would become one of the most important lessons of my career. I was working on a…

Ever find a letter from years back? People keep things they value. Not in terms of dollars, but in terms of how they make them feel. If you do not read further, I ask you to do this: Drop a note, card, or letter to someone who makes, or has made, an impact on your life. Take 10 seconds and close your eyes. Think about a person who has made a difference in your life,…