Are you a “get-to” person or a “got-to/have-to” person? I start many of my presentations with a PowerPoint that shows the terms “get to” and “got to/have to” with a mark through the terms “got to/have to.” I share that while we will cover lots of material, if there is one action I hope they leave with, it is using the term “get to” versus “got to” and/or “have to.” I then ask them to…

How does one replenish themselves and others? A common definition of the word replenish is “to make full again.” This is often used in terms of supplying what is lacking, used up, etc. I have heard the message that one should stay hydrated. To hydrate is to replenish oneself. That is physical replenishment, and it’s important…but mental and emotional replenishment are also important. Much of my current work is focused on helping organizations create cultures of replenishment.…

As a leader, do I bring the needed enthusiasm to those I meet? Do I express optimism about the future? Lately, these are questions I’ve been thinking about a lot. With each of my books, columns, articles, podcasts, and presentations, I hold up the self-awareness mirror. The question I ask myself is: How well am I following what I recommend to others? Sharing best practices in leadership provides such an opportunity. It is normal for me to come…

In this season of Thanksgiving, it occurred to me that one thing I’m deeply grateful for is the opportunity to give. Since well before the inception of Healthcare Plus Solutions Group (HPSG), my colleague, Quint Studer, and I have tried to demonstrate a closeness to the healthcare industry…and part of that closeness is illustrated by looking for opportunities to give back.  One of the most tangible illustrations was the amount of time that Quint has…

Writing my book The Calling: Why Healthcare Is So Special was a journey. The original concept of the book was that leadership is an inside job. This means that the better our “insides” (emotions and thoughts) are working, the better the external outcomes will be. I presented the talk “Leadership Is an Inside Job” at a large leadership session for TriHealth in Cincinnati, Ohio, on November 6, 2019. Afterward, TriHealth President/CEO Mark Clement was very complimentary about…

In the dictionary, the definition of autonomy is most often based on the core notion of self-government or self-determination. My experience in working with many organizations is that many equate autonomy with being trusted. It is often seen as the opposite of micromanagement. When a person in leadership is asked how they feel about working for someone, it may be viewed as a positive statement if they say, “I like it, they leave me alone.”…