How can we make it easy to create safer environments?

I spent the last several weeks interviewing women leaders in healthcare about how they think about leadership and well-being in our healthcare system. These conversations were fun, and I enjoyed getting to know several incredible women.

This week I’m highlighting Karla Cauldwell and her perspective on how women leaders who model self-care create teams that are more resilient and healthier!

Each woman leader is making a difference and asking questions to open dialogue about how we might do things differently in healthcare. These women are pushing the boundaries of how we are used to operating in healthcare.

As they share their stories, you’ll notice a few themes. Courage. Psychological safety. Reducing power differentials. Playing with hierarchy. Culture change. Modeling self-care. Imperfect parenting.

And our conversations got me thinking.

“How can we make it easy to create safer environments?”

Maybe there isn’t a simple answer to this question. But I do believe the answers start with you.

To get started, Dr. Amy Edmonson recommends that you ask yourself,

“Was everything as safe as I wanted it to be for my people and patients last week?”

If you take the time to ask yourself these questions and answer them honestly, you will be changed. I promise. And you won’t be able to listen to these women’s stories without being challenged to be different.

Act boldly. Question your assumptions. Bring your values into your work every day.

When you are changed, your healthcare system will be too.

Nicola

p.s. I explored how leaders can address burnout for themselves and their healthcare system in an article written for KevinMD. Every one of us can make a difference. I’d love to hear what you think!

Want 27 new ideas about how to create change?

I packed a quick and dirty organizational well-being assessment plus 27 action items into a 35-minute video. Wowza.

This idea-packed video complements the personal stories I shared in the How-To season of the Menders podcast.

So grab a cup of coffee. Grab your earbuds. And get creative about how you'll create transformation magic in your healthcare system today. Download the mini-course!

#womeninleadership #womenleaders #courage #healthcareleaders