Is it true that...?

I primarily teach physician leaders what they may not have learned in medical school—leadership, team dynamics, and executive presence.

When I meet them, I usually start by asking about their specialty and how they chose that path. When I meet a pediatrician, I ask a question I already know the answer to: “Is it true that children are not just little adults?”

With a 100% response rate, they all say yes, and then they go on to explain why, sharing stories about their patients, their families, and their experiences. Sometimes, they’ll even point out that the “patient” is actually the parent.

I do the same with nurses, whether active or retired: “Is it true that once a nurse, always a nurse?” The stories flow immediately.

I recently spoke with travel insurance underwriters. While I’m no expert in their field, all I had to ask was: “Did you go to school to become an underwriter?” Most of them laughed, and the stories began.

Be curious. Stay curious. Even when you think you know the answer, you don’t know the story.

That mindset is at the heart of my work. I teach physician and nurse leaders the things medical training often overlooks: executive presence, communicating with senior leaders, and leading teams made up of their former peers.