Leadership Lessons They Don't Teach in Medical School
Leadership Lessons They Don't Teach in Medical School
Why medicine is not a “normal business,” and what every new leader must understand about information gaps, payment incentives, inelastic demand, barriers to entry, and ethics. Part 1 of a two-part series on healthcare leadership.
We grow up thinking communication is a soft skill. It’s not. It’s the skill that makes every other skill matter.
If leadership is about inspiring hope, communication is how we deliver it — through credibility, care, and clarity.
In a time when healthcare feels harder than ever, gratitude may seem like a luxury. But for those who lead, heal, and care, it’s a lifeline. This Thanksgiving reflection shares what doctors (and all who work in healthcare) still have to be thankful for. It ends with a tip on the practice of gratitude in healthcare.
Care is what makes hope human. Credibility earns trust. Clarity shows the way. But care ensures people feel seen, valued, and supported along the journey. Without it, leadership falls flat.
Vision sounds inspiring, but it’s clarity that actually moves people. Once leaders earn trust, teams want to know one thing: Where are we going next? Clarity turns vague mission statements into concrete steps, reduces confusion, and helps people see progress. In this post, I discuss why clarity matters more than vision for inspiring hope—and how leaders can practice it every day.
Inspiring hope doesn’t start with big visions or stirring words. It starts with credibility—being trustworthy, consistent, and honest. Without it, hope dies. With it, teams believe tomorrow can be better than today.
In our rush to grow up, we often forget one of the greatest sources of creativity, connection, and joy—the power of play.
In this story about my daughter’s “last” Halloween and an Elvis-wig tradition from my first job in rural Wisconsin, I argue that play is essential, not childish. Whether leading a team, raising a family, or simply living fully, staying playful keeps us young at heart and open to possibility. Because the moment we stop wearing costumes, we stop growing.
This post explores why inspiring hope is an important task of leadership, why it does not come naturally to healthcare leaders and how some steps to take in overcoming this challenge.