Care Always About Others – The Secret Sauce of Wellness-Centered Leadership
Care Always About Others – The Secret Sauce of Wellness-Centered Leadership
In the grand circus of healthcare, we’re all juggling a lot: patients, paperwork, policies, and the ever-present potential for burnout. Amidst all this, there’s one act that often gets overlooked: truly caring for those around us. We don’t mean the obligatory “How are you?” in passing or the “Great job!” at the end of a grueling shift. We’re talking about the heart and soul of Wellness-Centered Leadership: Care Always About Others.
If you think leadership is about issuing orders and enforcing rules, think again. Leadership is not about being the person with the biggest office or the loudest voice in the room. It’s about being the person who cares the most. It’s about recognizing that to build a thriving healthcare team, you have to start by caring deeply, consistently, and genuinely about every single person on that team.
Why “Care Always About Others” Matters
We hear you thinking: “Wait, I’m already doing that! I’m empathetic, I’m compassionate.” And that’s great, but let’s take it up a notch. When we say, “Care Always About Others,” we’re talking about a level of care that goes beyond the surface. It’s more than just being nice; it’s about being invested. It's about knowing what makes your team tick, understanding their challenges, and celebrating their wins—big or small.
When you truly care about others, it shows. And when people feel cared about, they engage more, they collaborate better, and they’re more likely to stick around. It’s like the difference between a houseplant that gets watered once a month versus one that gets watered regularly, placed in the sun, and maybe even talked to now and then (no judgment here!). One is surviving, and the other is thriving.
Meet CMO Sam: A Lesson in Caring for Others
Let’s revisit our friend CMO Sam. After embracing “Care Always: For Yourself,” Sam had another realization: it wasn’t enough to just care for himself; he needed to truly care for his team. Not just in the “I’m here if you need me” way, but in a way that made his team feel genuinely supported, valued, and seen.
Sam knew the only way to drive meaningful change was to start caring—really caring—about the people who made healthcare happen every day. And he decided to put that care into action.
The “Care Always About Others” Approach
Here’s how Sam did it:
1. Create a Culture of Appreciation:
· Making the Invisible Visible: Sam began to notice the little things his team members did every day that often went unacknowledged. Whether it was the nurse who stayed late to comfort a grieving family or the admin assistant who kept the department running smoothly with a smile, Sam started making those efforts visible. He launched a simple but powerful initiative: "Shout-Out Wednesdays," where team members could recognize each other’s contributions in a public way.
· Personal Touches: Sam took the time to learn about his team members’ personal goals and passions. He started small—remembering birthdays, recognizing work anniversaries, and sending handwritten notes of appreciation. These weren’t grand gestures, but they mattered. People began to feel seen and valued.
2. Foster Real Connections:
· Empathy in Action: Sam didn’t just ask his team how they were doing; he listened—really listened—to their answers. When someone said, “I’m fine,” he followed up with, “Are you sure? What’s on your mind?” And when someone needed help, he didn’t just offer platitudes; he rolled up his sleeves and got involved.
· Team Huddles with Heart: Sam implemented daily team huddles with a twist: each huddle began with a “human moment.” Team members were encouraged to share something personal—what they did over the weekend, a new hobby, or even a challenge they were facing. It wasn’t mandatory, but soon enough, everyone was participating. These moments built trust, broke down barriers, and strengthened relationships.
3. Prioritize Well-Being Over Workload:
· No More Martyrs: Sam stopped glorifying the “martyr mentality” that so often pervades healthcare. Instead, he encouraged his team to take breaks, use their vacation days, and set boundaries. When someone stayed late, he asked, “How can we make sure you don’t have to do that next time?”
· Flexible Support: Recognizing that everyone had different needs, Sam introduced more flexible working arrangements where possible. For some, it was adjusting shift patterns; for others, it was providing more opportunities for remote work. He showed his team that their well-being wasn’t just a talking point—it was a priority.
The Impact: A Team That Cares Because They Feel Cared For
The changes Sam made weren’t revolutionary—they were human. And that was precisely the point. When his team saw that their leader genuinely cared about them as people, not just as employees, everything started to change:
· Higher Engagement: The team felt more connected, motivated, and engaged in their work. They started taking ownership, not because they had to, but because they wanted to.
· Stronger Team Bonds: Relationships deepened, and the team began to function as a true community, supporting each other through challenges and celebrating successes together.
· Reduced Turnover: With a leader who cared, fewer team members considered leaving. They felt valued, seen, and understood—a powerful combination that no job listing could easily compete with.
Why Caring About Others Is the Ultimate Leadership Move
So, here’s the deal: “Care Always About Others” isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s the secret sauce that makes Wellness-Centered Leadership work. It’s not about grand gestures or big speeches. It’s about showing up every day with a commitment to care deeply about the people around you.
Because here’s the thing: when people know you care, they care back. They care about their work, their patients, their colleagues, and—yes—they even care about you. It’s the ultimate leadership move because it’s rooted in the simplest truth: people thrive when they feel cared for.
The Invitation: Choose to Care
Leadership isn’t a title, and it’s certainly not just a job description. It’s a choice. A choice to care always, about yourself and about others. So, here’s the invitation: Don’t just manage your team—lead them. Lead with care, lead with heart, and watch what happens when people feel valued, supported, and truly seen.
Ready to make a difference? Ready to lead with care? Because remember: It’s not about burnout. It’s about leadership. And caring always about others is where it begins.
Join us at Care4th as we redefine what it means to lead well in healthcare. Contact us to learn how to create a culture of care in your organization today.