Culture Catalyst Blog & Articles

Beware the Holiday Hospital

It’s almost Christmas which means your already-hard-working staff is now working holiday shifts. It’s always a balance between maintaining high-quality care and leaving a little space and time for some lighthearted festivities. Years ago, I heard a healthcare leader talk about ...

Avoiding Conflict Destroys a Leader’s Credibility

Leaders who want credibility with their teams won’t achieve that goal by avoiding conflict. In some ways, avoiding conflict is human nature. In fact, the path of least resistance is a law of nature. But that path of least resistance ...

Change is Hard – 3 Tips for Dealing with Resistance

Leaders as Change Agents: Change Is Hard and Resistance to Change Is Inevitable Like most entrepreneurs, I’m an ideas person. I see opportunities and potential all around me and that means embracing change. While I may be excited and energized by ...

Grip Hearts and Engage Minds through Storytelling

Grip Hearts and Engage Minds through Storytelling   When my father was dying, I sat by his bedside, holding his hand. Someone, I think it was my sister, told me I should go home and get some sleep. She said dad didn’t ...

Accountability Strengthens the Culture

Accountability Strengthens the Culture   A culture of accountability doesn’t just happen. It takes persistence well after you state your expectations. Parenting would be easy if you could tell your kids once, and only once, to do something and know for certain it ...

No Bullies Allowed

No Bullies Allowed   Employee retention and patient satisfaction start with culture.  There are no quick fixes for a dysfunctional work environment, but there are some immediate and bold actions required when bullies rear their ugly heads. Not long ago, I began working ...

Accountability is Not Micromanaging

Accountability is Not Micromanaging   Nobody likes a micromanager, someone who hovers wanting to know every detail of what you do. But don’t confuse micromanaging with holding people accountable. The two are miles apart in how they affect the employees and culture.   Holding people ...

Feedback Isn’t Positive or Negative

Feedback Isn’t Positive or Negative   Have you ever noticed that people tend to preface the word feedback with a qualifier such as positive or negative? The truth is feedback isn’t positive or negative. It’s feedback. Period. The dictionary defines feedback as: information ...

Effective Feedback is a Two-Way Street

Effective Feedback is a Two-Way Street   Over the course of my career, I’ve been on both the sending and receiving sides of feedback. I’ve come to know that continuous improvement requires that you be able to do both well.   Training, preparation, and ...