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Summary
Joy: the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune
Joy in work is not a flaky, soft, fluffy thing to add on when you have the time or money to do so. Joy in work should be a right for everyone who is committing themselves to the work and leadership in healthcare. It connects us with meaning and purpose, and that’s just the first course.
Its measure starts with engagement and satisfaction, and then the ball is rolling. We get lower turnover, reduced burnout, improved patient experience, outcomes and safety. People are more productive and effective, and make fewer errors. All of that adds up to lower costs: Joy in work saves money.
The steps you take are laid out in the IHI framework, starting with asking ‘what matters to you’. This is leadership in action, and while system and organisation backing, support and engagement make a difference, there is nothing to stop you starting a movement of joy.
It’s an act of resistance, your way to raise the power of the human spirit in yourself and everyone around you. It’s a counterweight to overwhelm and disconnection, where you reclaim your own emotional and mental agency.
And with that, we can positively change the way it feels to work in healthcare so that you can make a difference for those you are serving.
Links and Resources
The IHI Framework for Improving Joy in Work
How does joy in work advance quality and safety
The three foundations for joy in work
Let’s admit we need to have joy in work
5 qualities of high-impact healthcare leaders
Joy as an act of resistance
Sign up for the No Jedi Joyful email
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If feeling feelings is part of being human and our emotions are data, not direction, how does the healthcare leader respond in the emotionally charged workplace that is healthcare?
This episode, I’m tapping into the experts and sharing the ideas that help you manage your emotions - the wanted and the not-so-wanted in the work setting. We’re factoring in the specific healthcare challenges and realising the impact of not managing your emotions can have, for you as a leader and for those around you.
These are skills, ideas and tactics I wish I had learned much earlier in my career and will enable you to establish yourself with confidence and clarity.
Don’t miss your opportunity to be part of the ‘how you want to feel at work’ conversation, coming up on Friday, 23rd May. Grab your place here.
Links and Resources
Register for the Emotional Culture Deck Free ‘How do you want to feel at work’ session
Sign up for the No Jedi email
5 qualities of high-impact healthcare leaders
Liz and Mollie
How to manage your anger at work
Susan David
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Fehlende Folgen?
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This episode isn’t polished (like it ever is), it’s personal. In this week’s episode, I’m sharing what many leaders are too scared to say out loud—what it’s like to be accused of bullying, and what it feels like to be on the receiving end.
These real-life stories are a wake-up call to pay attention to what’s said, unsaid, and misunderstood in our teams. Bullying in healthcare leadership doesn’t always look like we expect, but its impact is always real, and it’s always personal
We get into why my favourite topics of connection, belonging and trust as so important to any work or efforts to address the culture you have at work.
Pink Shirt Day is coming up, and it’s your chance to remind, refresh and re-commit to not only who you are as a leader, but how you want others to feel.
Links and Resources
5 qualities of high-impact healthcare leaders
Pink Shirt Day
I’m being bullied
You’ve first steps when someone says ‘I’m being bullied’
Pink Shirt Day for Life
Sign up for your weekly bright spot here
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Summary
As Star Wars fans celebrate May the 4th, we’re kicking off season 4, reflecting on the stories that shape us.
Star Wars was a big childhood influence that I’ve carried with me into my work and my leadership. Knowing ‘I’m no Jedi but I know the force’ is about saying that I don’t have all the answers, but I know these conversations matter. And along the way, I’ll have a few things to share with you that will help, support and encourage you.
We’re looking at the shadow sides we all have, and that, like overusing our strengths, we can get tripped up if we’re not aware, but you don’t need to be a hero to be a great leader
I’m also exploring the deeper truth: fear-based tight control isn’t just ineffective in healthcare—it’s exhausting. Instead, connection, purpose and curiosity are powerful antidotes.
If you’ve ever felt like you should know more as a leader, this episode is a permission slip to lead with curiosity and courage instead.
Links
Grab your spot at one of two workshops - how do you want to feel at work?
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Wrapping up season 3 with planning ahead tips in a mini-mid-week episode because I completely forgot it was Easter.
Links and Resources
5 qualities of high-impact healthcare leaders
Get started, get simplified and organise your work life
The digital declutter you didn’t know you needed
Two things I know about getting things done
I don’t want to keep fighting fires
What’s a topic you want the lounge to explore? Let me know here.
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Healthcare is stretched, but your mindset is still a choice. This episode isn’t about pretending things aren’t tough—it’s about the power of noticing how you think, and choosing to lead with clarity and impact anyway. We explore the Abundance Mindset and how it supports stronger, more intentional leadership—even in stretched systems.
Links and Resources
5 qualities of high-impact healthcare leaders
Grateful In April
Gratitude Freebies
Gratitude Practice when you have no time
Appreciative Feedback to Shift Your Culture
There will always be more: overcoming scarcity mindset
Habit Four: Think Win-Win
When a sense of scarcity takes over
Moving from scarcity to gratitude: your leadership choice
What’s a topic you want the lounge to explore, let me know here.
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Behind every episode of The Leadership Lounge is a deeper reason for showing up. Hitting the 50-episode mark felt like the right time to pause and reflect—not just on the podcast, but on the leadership journey itself. Every leadership journey starts somewhere—but what keeps it going? In this episode, I share three key reflections that have shaped both the podcast and my own leadership: getting clear on your why, showing up with persistence (especially on the tough days), and staying adaptable as things around you change.
These aren’t just podcasting lessons—they’re leadership ones. I also revisit the foundation of what we talk about: supporting personal leadership growth, building strong and connected teams, and making healthcare work better through operational excellence. Whether you're leading in complexity, starting to find your feet, or recalibrating your role—this conversation is for you.
Links and Resources
5 qualities of high-impact healthcare leaders
Grit, purpose and hope
Asking for help
Getting started with reflection
How to re-think managing up
Building your professional network
What’s a topic you want the lounge to explore, let me know here.
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Every day, healthcare teams work together—but are they cooperating or collaborating? And does it matter? In this episode, we explore the key differences, when to use each approach, and why shared purpose is the glue that makes both work. Breaking down silos and strengthening connections between leaders and teams is critical to delivering better patient outcomes and creating healthier workplace cultures. Whether you're a new charge nurse leading a team or a seasoned leader looking to foster deeper collaboration, this conversation will give you practical insights to build trust, alignment, and impact.
Links and Resources
Download your guide to finding your team’s purpose
5 qualities of high-impact healthcare leaders
The difference between collaboration and cooperation
The difference between collaboration and cooperation (yes the same title but it’s a different link)
Cooperation, coordination and collaboration
The power of teamwork and collaboration
What’s a topic you want the lounge to explore, let me know here.
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If you are leading leaders, this episode is packed with insights and practical strategies to help you create a solid foundation—one that ensures your new team leaders can handle the fast pace of leadership with confidence and clarity. Plus, check out the show notes for a free Appreciative Feedback mini-course to help embed these practices into your leadership approach.
Links and Resources
5 qualities of high-impact healthcare leaders
19 words to use in providing feedback from the PinkCast
The Culture Code by Daniel Coyle
Radical Candor by Kim Scott
Increase your leadership impact with every 1:1 meeting
Appreciative Feedback 101 - A free course so you can boost morale, increase energy and shift the culture of your team.
Meet me and the kitten over on Instagram
Burning issue, stuck point, or challenge you can’t get any help on - let’s talk about it in the lounge let me know here.
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What if kindness wasn’t just a personal trait but a powerful force for transforming healthcare? I dive into Intelligent Kindness, a concept that shifts kindness from being seen as ‘soft’ to a strategic approach for stronger teams, better patient care, and a healthier system. From tackling self-doubt to building trust and therapeutic alliances, this episode offers a fresh perspective on why kindness—when applied intelligently—is anything but soft.
Links and Resources
5 qualities of high-impact healthcare leaders
Reforming the culture of healthcare: the case for intelligent kindness
Intelligent kindness in practice
Culture, kinship and intelligent kindness
An introduction into intelligent kindness
The Francis Inquiry Report
What’s a topic you want the lounge to explore, let me know here.
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Tackling a challenge can feel overwhelming, but the key is to start right and stay the course. In this short episode, I share a simple yet powerful four-step framework: (1) Understand the issue, (2) Ask questions, (3) Start small, and (4) Keep going. It’s about clarity, curiosity, and the grit to see things through. A short and practical listen for leaders in the thick of it!
Links and Resources
5 Qualities of High Impact Healthcare Leaders
Does healthcare need great managers or great leaders?
Your first two moves when you feel stuck
Humble Enquiry
Getting Started
Grit, Purpose and Hope
Keep going, you’re doing great
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What happens when staff are afraid to speak up? Healthcare teams struggle with stress, turnover, and burnout—but when psychological safety is strong, collaboration, learning, and performance thrive. In this episode, we break down what psychological safety is, the stories of where it started and the impacts when you have it, and what happens when you don’t. We look at why hierarchy and fear hold teams back and how the four key domains—willingness to help, inclusion, risk attitude, and open conversations create actionable focus areas for you and your team.
Links and Resources
What is Psychological Safety
Psychological Safety as an Enduring Resource Amid Constraints
The Fearless Organisation Scan
Amy Edmondson
Better Leadership & Learning: A Guide to Psychological Safety
Liz and Mollie Psychological Safety Assessment
The 4 stages of psychological safety
Radical Candor
An introduction to the SCARF model
Say Kia ora on LinkedIn
Join the hundreds of healthcare leaders who get the regular dose of inspiration and encouragement.
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Healthcare leaders are being asked to do the impossible. So, how do we make the work achievable? In this episode, we talk about the courage it takes to prioritise, the role of risk conversations in setting boundaries, and how tools like FMEA and Cal Newport’s ideas in Slow Productivity can help us work differently. I also revisit the ‘big rocks’ allegory and why health—our own and our teams’—must be in the jar first. This is about making working and leading in healthcare sustainable.
Links and Resources
Slow Productivity Cal Newport
Be clear on what matters
Rocks, pebbles and sand analogy
Stephen Covey’s Big Rocks video
FMEA from the IHI
Your meetings from a perspective of courage
Nick Petrie on burnout
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Your environment influences more than just your workflow—it affects how you feel, how you lead, and even how others perceive you. Rabbit holes aside, an organised and decluttered workspace helps your focus and reduces frustration. Taking some of the hard work of what is often hard work.
In short, your workspace isn’t just where you work—it’s how you work. In this episode, I’m sharing ideas and stories to give you a fresh perspective on how you can support your energy, and effectiveness by looking at the physical environment you are in.
Plus, a challenge: take a fresh look at your space and make changes that set you up for success.
Links and Resources
Get started, get organised and simplify your work life
Joy at Work by Marie Kondo and Scott Sonenshein
Work Smarter, Live Better by Cyril Peupion
Building a Second Brain by Tiago Forte
PARA by Tiago Forte
The 15 Step Challenge
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Frustration, burnout, feeling like something is off—these emotions don’t just come from the workload or the people around us. Often, they’re a signal of a deeper misalignment with our core values. If you don’t have clarity on what truly matters to you, decision-making becomes harder, confidence wavers, and tough situations feel even heavier. In this episode, I explore how understanding your values gives you the power to make better choices, feel more grounded, and lead with confidence—even in challenging environments. If that sounds like your life right now, download the values workbook to help you get started on defining what truly drives you.
Links and Resources
Download the Personal Values Workbook
Brené Brown Dare to Lead Hub and Living into your values.
Owen Eastwood Belonging and Way of Champions Interview
Gil Sewell
Fiona Michel
Tim Keogh, Kinder Conversations and A Kind Life
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Links and Resources
Are you there yet? Developing a Growth Mindset
The Infinite Game - Simon Sinek
Stephen Covey - Urgent versus Important time matrix
Patrick Lencioni and The 5 Dysfunctions of a Team
A collection of Trust
The Libby App for audiobooks
5 qualities of high-impact healthcare leaders
Got a topic you want the lounge to explore let me know here.
Let’s connect on LinkedIn
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Links and Resources
Inspiration as a physiological construct. Todd M Thrash and Andrew J Elliot
Ken Robinson TED talk: Do Schools Kill Creativity
Grit, Purpose and Hope
Angela Duckwork
Keep Going, You’re Doing Great
Simon Sinek Start with Why TED talk
Martin Seligman
Brene Brown and The Power of Vulnerability
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Links and resources
5 qualities of high-impact healthcare leaders
Gratitude Practice Guide
When was the last time anyone said ‘thank you’ to you
Tracking those goals
Showing up and finding a bright spot
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Links and Resources
Introduction to the SCARF model
Another day of meetings (using the SCARF model to review your calendar - a challenging leadership activity).
The SCARF model of engagement
Unleash the Power of the SCARF Model for Effective Leadership and Coaching
Examining the engagement of health services staff in change management: modifying the SCARF assessment model
SCARF in 2012
5 qualities of high-impact healthcare leaders
Got a topic you want the lounge to explore let me know here.
Sign up for the No Jedi email here
Let’s connect on Linkedin
or if Facebook is more you, join me in the Healthcare Leadership Hub
Meet me on Instagram
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Links and Resources
Eddie Izzard and the best-laid plans of Mice and Men
Helen Bevan sharing how to adapt SMART goals
Alicia McKay - a fresh take on SMART goals
2025 Bingo Card
Susannah Conway and Find Your Word 2025
Got a topic you want the lounge to explore let me know here.
Sign up for the No Jedi email here
Let’s connect on Linkedin or if Facebook is more you, join me in the Healthcare Leadership Hub
Meet the new kitten on Instagram
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