(LIVE BLOG from Rewiring Healthcare: Foundation to Future, April 28-29, in Atlanta, GA) 

In her session, Kay Kennedy emphasized that leadership is not a position, but rather a practice. It is about how you show up, how others experience you, and what you model every day. Her message was simple: Know what anchors you…so you can anchor others.

Kay walked through all the dimensions of the Human-­Centered Leadership in Healthcare® framework, including the Awakener, the Connector, and the Upholder, but focused deeply on the part leaders are most likely to skip: self-prioritization. In healthcare, where leaders are wired to serve, many have spent their careers putting themselves last. The result is burnout, disconnection, and a leadership style that is reactive instead of intentional.

Changing that starts with the mindset: “I matter.” For some leaders, even saying that feels uncomfortable. But without it, the rest of the work becomes harder.

In the session, Kay outlined what self-prioritization looks like in practice:

• Self-awareness: Knowing yourself and how others experience you.
• Self-nurture: Taking responsibility for your own well-being.
• Self-compassion: Treating yourself with the same grace you give others.
• Mindfulness: Being present enough to lead well.

The takeaway is that leadership is an inside-out process. If you are not grounded, it becomes difficult to create stability for your team.

Kay also offered a simple tool, the “Wheel of Wellness,” to help leaders reflect across key areas of their lives that make up well-being. These include:

Physical: Am I exercising regularly and eating right?

Intellectual/Creative: Do I have opportunities to learn and grow?

Emotional/Mental: Do I talk about my feelings and emotions? 

Spiritual: Do I have a belief system?

Relational: Do I spend enough time with people that I care about?

Recreational: Am I making time for fun? 

Financial: Have I made a budget that works for my life?

Occupational: Does my job challenge me and use my gifts? 
 
The goal is awareness, not perfection.

You cannot pour from an empty cup. In healthcare, where the demands never stop, learning to take care of yourself is so much more than a smart personal choice. It is a leadership requirement.

About Kay Kennedy, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, CPHQ, FAAN

Chief Executive Officer, uLeadership

Dr. Kennedy serves as Chief Executive Officer of uLeadership, an HPSG company, internationally recognized for advancing professional development and research in relational leadership for healthcare professionals. She also holds adjunct faculty appointments at the Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions, Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing at Emory University, and the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing at Case Western Reserve University. A passionate advocate for Human-Centered Leadership in Healthcare®, Dr. Kennedy focuses on its role in fostering positive cultures and improving outcomes in healthcare. Throughout her career, she has held leadership positions spanning from bedside care to the Chief Nursing Officer. Dr. Kennedy holds a DNP in Executive Leadership from Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions. She received her BSN and MN in Nursing Administration from the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing at Emory University. She is certified as an Advanced Nurse Executive through the American Nurses Credentialing Center and as a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality through the National Association of Healthcare Quality. Dr. Kennedy is a member of the 2025 class of inductees in the American Academy of Nursing. She is an active member of several professional organizations where she holds national committee positions. Dr. Kennedy is the co-author of the book, Human-Centered Leadership in Healthcare: Evolution of a Revolution, the reflective journal, Shifts, and her newest book, Human-Centered Leadership in Healthcare: The Revolution Continues. She has authored and co-authored numerous journal articles on nursing leadership and presents nationally and internationally with her colleagues on research associated with the theory of Human-Centered Leadership in Healthcare.