I have many teachers. Chester Elton and Adrian Gostick are two of them. They are best-selling authors, presenters, and coaches. Chester has presented in Pensacola,…
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…
When operating margins get tight, excellent emergency department performance becomes an organizational imperative. The ED influences patient volume, hospital admissions, community reputation, patient loyalty,…
Every day, healthcare organizations promote some of their best people. Charge nurses become managers. Clinicians become department heads. Physicians step into administrative roles. These…
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…
Healthcare doesn’t need a fresh start—it needs a thoughtful rewire. Rewiring Healthcare: Foundation to Future brings together senior leaders to step back…
Repetition can be a good thing. If you follow my work, hardwiring is a word you are likely familiar with. It’s how I describe systems and behaviors that are in place to create consistency. Hardwiring is a good thing. Yet, it doesn’t mean that what we hardwire stays in place forever. Dan Collard and I wrote the book Rewiring Excellence: Hardwired to Rewired on this subject. When we rewire, we don’t change what is working. We take a fresh…
Healthcare leaders are navigating unprecedented pressure: staffing shortages, burnout, rapid technological change, and rising expectations from patients and teams alike. In this environment, leadership cannot rely on authority, position, or process alone. How leaders show up and how they connect with people matters more than ever. In a recent Healthcare Plus Podcast conversation, Dan Collard spoke with Kay Kennedy, co-founder of uLeadershipÒ, about the evolution of Human-Centered Leadership in HealthcareÒ and what leaders can expect…
In healthcare today, headlines often highlight workforce shortages, financial pressures, regulatory complexity, and the many stressors facing healthcare organizations—realities that are certainly present. When asked about the future of healthcare, my answer is: I’m optimistic. That optimism comes from spending time with the people who work in healthcare every day—physicians, nurses, administrators, and other vital people who dedicate their lives to serving others. It is easy to be hopeful when speaking with healthcare administration students,…
There is no shortage of ideas out there. Read a book, attend a conference, or log onto LinkedIn, and we walk away with plenty of inspiration. Execution is where the struggle can be. Why is that? If we know what we need to do (or at least what has worked for others), why do we have trouble, well, doing it? There are barriers, external and internal. One of the biggest barriers is perfectionism. People don’t like to…
Healthcare organizations are asking more of their people than ever before. Complexity is up. Experience levels are down. The pace is relentless. And while healthcare is filled with strong, resilient professionals, that strength often comes at a cost. In a recent Healthcare Plus Podcast conversation, Dan Collard spoke with Regina Shupe about her two main-stage sessions at the upcoming Rewiring Healthcare: Foundation to Future conference (April 28–29, Atlanta). Together, they explore why caring for caregivers…
As I watched the Winter Olympics last month, I realized the Games have a lot to teach us about making healthcare better. These amazing athletes reminded me that greatness has as much to do with mindset as it does with talent. Behind every flawless routine and podium finish is a coach: watching closely, refining technique, making small adjustments the athlete may not even notice. And Olympic success depends on the willingness to be coached, corrected,…
Feedback. It’s something all people say they value. However, some ways of collecting it are more effective than others. I attend many meetings and presentations in which the leader asks if there are any questions, and very few, if any, hands go up. It is no surprise that people tend to be cautious about speaking up in this situation. After a pause or someone’s finally asking a very non-threatening question, the session comes to an end. There are some typical ways to get feedback via surveys. They can happen after a…
Healthcare continues to evolve at a rapid pace. Technology advances, workflows change, and roles expand across settings. Yet one thing remains constant: people remember how care made them feel. In a recent Healthcare Plus Podcast conversation, Dan Collard spoke with nurse leader and coach Lisa Reich about why human connection remains essential in modern healthcare and how small, intentional rewires can make compassion visible and impactful across every care environment. Their discussion previews Reich’s upcoming…
One of my favorite leadership ideas is the GPS Theory. When you miss a turn, your GPS doesn’t judge you. It doesn’t guilt trip you or bring up the last three exits you blew past. It just finds a new route. That’s how life works too. You’re going to miss turns. You’re going to take the wrong exit. But the destination doesn’t disappear just because you went off course. The only thing that changes is…
It seems the feeling that there are too many meetings comes up frequently in conversations these days. Time is precious. No one wants to sit in meetings that don’t add value. On the other hand, well-run meetings have a positive impact in many areas. This column offers tips on how to make the most of your meetings. It is not inclusive; there are many good tools on this topic that are easy to locate. However,…