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Well-Being

Doctor and nurse discussing patient case at hospital

Want More Autonomy? Focus on Achieving Goals.

Quint Studer
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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.”…
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Change is Hard. Be Kind to Yourself as You Bounce.

Quint Studer
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“Grace, not perfection.” This statement (which also happens to be the title of one of my favorite books by Emily Ley) was sent to me by Allyson W. Anderson, the executive director of Escambia County Healthy Start Coalition. She had read my column that mentioned forgiveness as a value. Allyson sent me a photo from a recent retreat they did, and forgiveness is listed on a visual they created. The team developed it. I also received an email from…
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Businessman keeping all the plates spinning

Changing How We Think About Our “Full Plate”

Quint Studer
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We live in complex, chaotic times, and it can feel like we’re busier than we’ve ever been before. Everybody’s got a full plate. When I speak to groups and ask, “Whose plate is chock-full right now?” 100 percent of the hands go up. This is not a new response. As long as I have been doing this work, no one has ever said, “I don’t have a full plate.” Our plates have always been full, and…
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Anxious Arabic woman feel unhappy thinking at home

Reducing Fear and Anxiety

Quint Studer
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I recently did a podcast with Mindy G. Spigel, RN, MSN, CPXP. She has a new book. It’s called There’s a Snake on My Head! Strategies for Alleviating Fear and Anxiety in Healthcare for Patients, Families AND Healthcare Teams. In the podcast, she talks about research she did on reducing fear and anxiety. When people were asked how they want to be treated when they’re scared or anxious, their answers boiled down to this: “Keep me informed,…
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Shot of two businesspeople giving each other a high five in an office

Seven Ways to Start Letting in the Positives (and Start Being Kind to Yourself)

Quint Studer
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Part Two of a Two-Part Column Are you harder on yourself than perhaps you should be? Many leaders are. We want to do our best work, and it’s easy to feel like we let others down when we are not perfect. I know this is true because I sometimes feel this way. Actually, I have gotten better than I used to be, but I still have my moments. If you read my column last week,…
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Drawing Unhappy and Happy Smileys on Chalkboard

Do You Filter Out the Positives?

Quint Studer
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Part One of a Two-Part Column A question I get asked often, particularly by less-experienced managers, is, “What’s the number-one piece of advice you have for people new to leadership?” My answer is, “Always be kind to yourself.” I’m not sure I would have said that years ago. Maybe it’s age. Maybe it’s experience. Maybe it’s life lessons. Whatever the reason, it’s the first message I give these days. Recently I received a phone call from…
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Mother and daughter working from home.

Work/Life Balance: Coming To Terms With Our “Seasons”

Quint Studer
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For years, the topic of work/life balance or work/life blend has interested me. Achieving it seems rather elusive. It reminds me of the saying, “My serenity is directly tied to my expectations.” I am not saying we shouldn’t strive for balance. It is very important, and of course we all want to achieve as much balance as possible. It’s just that, at least during certain seasons of our lives, we need to accept that we’re…
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Thoughtful black woman looking outside window

Six Reflections on Learning, Living, and Keeping Things in Perspective

Quint Studer
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Each week now for several years I have written this column. I normally take one or two topics to address. This column will be different. It is a mix of thoughts, sayings, and/or advice that I have found and still find helpful. I hope you find these helpful. When the student is ready, the teacher appears. I was never a good student in school or a good student of life. At 31, something clicked. An…
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