Healthcare Leadership Excellence

Karl Pister
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The Healthcare Leadership Excellence podcast was created to share valuable insights around leadership, communication, emotional intelligence and conflict resolution. Karl Pister, with over 30 years of coaching experience, is a passionate advocate of excellent and influential leadership. In each episode, Karl discusses real-life leadership challenges through the lenses of outstanding healthcare professionals. He is committed to empowering every healthcare leader lead with integrity, excellence, and inspiration.

  1. DEC 15

    Episode 166: The Real Work of Conflict Resolution with Andy Hall

    In this episode, I turn the mic over to my own coach, Andy Hall, for a conversation about conflict and why leaders struggle with it. Andy and I talk about my path into mediation—from early lessons reading Fisher and Ury’s Getting to Yes to the intensive week I spent training with the Harvard Program on Negotiation. That experience shaped how I work: long preparation, deep listening, and slowing conversations down so people can actually be understood. We look at the most common leadership mistake: pretending conflict isn’t there and hoping it resolves itself. We talk about why even seasoned leaders get thrown off when emotion enters the room, and how the fear of “not being seen as a good person” drives avoidance. From there, we walk through the essentials of resolving conflict well: get buy-in from the top, meet privately with each party, set clear structure, remove interruptions, ask clarifying questions, and take time to build a solid foundation before moving to solutions. Awareness is a major theme. Leaders must recognize what they bring into the room, learn to read others, and practice Covey’s Habit 5—seek first to understand. Questions, not arguments, move conversations forward. And healthy teams need conflict; agreeing too quickly is often a sign that real concerns are hiding under the table. We close with one practical step for anyone facing conflict right now: take a pad of paper, sit down with the other person, and focus only on understanding their story. Until you do that, every step that follows is built on sand. Subscribe to Karl’s Leadership Writing. 👉 Who is Karl Pister? 👉 Follow us on LinkedIn. 👉 Have access to leadership materials that will level up your game. 👉 Contact us on our website. 👉 Subscribe to Karl's YouTube channel. Ready to level up your leadership skills? Sign up for The Coaching Group's leadership courses.

    42 min

  2. DEC 8

    Episode 165: Leading Through Allostatic Load with Dr. Jason Kuhl

    In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Jason Kuhl, Chief Medical Officer at Providence Medford Medical Center. We revisit a project we did together in Medford that became a model for breaking down silos: getting leaders in a room, listening first, and then building an agenda from what they actually needed rather than what I assumed they needed. Dr. Kuhl walks through how that work continues today through an acute care medical leadership council, an innovation center, and a structured way of thinking about problems that blends structural design and project management. We talk about allostatic load, redlining in our personal and professional lives, and what it really means to “metabolize” emotional trauma as a clinician. We also dig into psychological safety—how reporting systems can be weaponized, why tough conversations still matter, and how leaders model personal fallibility so teams feel safe speaking up without drifting into false harmony. Subscribe to Karl’s Leadership Writing. 👉 Who is Karl Pister? 👉 Follow us on LinkedIn. 👉 Have access to leadership materials that will level up your game. 👉 Contact us on our website. 👉 Subscribe to Karl's YouTube channel. Ready to level up your leadership skills? Sign up for The Coaching Group's leadership courses.

    40 min

  3. DEC 1

    Episode 164: What Leaders Get Wrong About Culture with Dr. Michelle Griffin

    In this episode, I talk with Dr. Michelle Griffin, CEO of Griffin Resources and an industrial–organizational psychologist who built her HR firm one year before COVID—and still grew it to seven figures by year three. Michelle brings real, applied experience from navigating healthcare regulations, staffing crises, rapid change, and the financial pressure that hit small and mid-size organizations during the pandemic. We get into what she learned leading clients through chaos, how she approached the numbers without an MBA, and why culture is always a choice. Her phrase “choose wisely” shows up again and again. Michelle explains why emotional intelligence still predicts turnover, performance, and conflict outcomes, and how leaders can develop EQ in practical ways through coaching, feedback, and intentional behavior. We also talk about the common traps new leaders fall into: avoiding conflict, ignoring career conversations, and treating people like “results machines.” Michelle makes a clear case for a people-first culture—not as a soft idea, but as a direct driver of patient experience, safety, and retention. It’s a grounded and practical conversation for anyone who wants to lead with clarity in a difficult environment. Subscribe to Karl’s Leadership Writing. 👉 Who is Karl Pister? 👉 Follow us on LinkedIn. 👉 Have access to leadership materials that will level up your game. 👉 Contact us on our website. 👉 Subscribe to Karl's YouTube channel. Ready to level up your leadership skills? Sign up for The Coaching Group's leadership courses.

    50 min

  4. NOV 24

    Episode 163: Wipe Out, Rise Up with Dr. Scott Ellner

    In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Scott Ellner, a former trauma surgeon who now leads physicians as president of Integris Health Medical Group in Oklahoma City. We start with a life-changing moment on the Pacific Coast Highway, in southern California, when Scott is a 21-year-old surfer and witnesses a Harley-Davison motorcycle accident. A trauma surgeon pulls over, places a breathing tube in the middle of the highway, and saves a life. That single act changes the entire direction of his career. From there, we walk through the big ideas in his  book, Wipe Out, Rise Up. We talk about what surfing teaches leaders: scanning the waves, building situational awareness, and knowing when not to “take off” – as a surgeon and as an executive. Scott explains the difference between resilience and true anti-fragility, how to “find comfort in discomfort,” and why boring routines come before brilliance. We also go straight at mental health. Scott shares honestly about suicidal thoughts earlier in his career and how getting help, practicing gratitude, and living his values shape the way he leads today. We close with the four cardinal virtues, the hard work of letting people go, and why trust and follow-through sit at the center of effective leadership. This episode is for clinicians, physician leaders, and executives who are tired of white-knuckle resilience and want something deeper; for people navigating stress, uncertainty, and tough calls; and for anyone ready to use adversity, values, and daily practice to lead with more wisdom, courage, and clarity. Subscribe to Karl’s Leadership Writing. 👉 Who is Karl Pister? 👉 Follow us on LinkedIn. 👉 Have access to leadership materials that will level up your game. 👉 Contact us on our website. 👉 Subscribe to Karl's YouTube channel. Ready to level up your leadership skills? Sign up for The Coaching Group's leadership courses.

    49 min

  5. NOV 17

    Episode 162: Kindness and Real Productivity with Graham Allcott

    In this episode of the Healthcare Leadership Excellence podcast, I sit down with author Graham Alcott to explore why kindness is not soft—it is a driver of real performance. Graham is known worldwide for Productivity Ninja, but his newest book, Kind, looks at how trust, truth, and grace fuel team effectiveness. Graham shares the moment in Rome where an audience of investment bankers asked about the secret to his success. His answer surprises even him: “When you are kind, you win.” That sparks a room-wide divide between people who see kindness as strength and those who believe only pressure gets results. That tension shapes our entire conversation. We dig into Graham’s core distinction: nice vs. kind. Nice tells people what they want to hear. Kind tells them what they need to hear. Kindness requires truth, courage, and skill—especially when giving feedback. We talk about why leaders avoid hard messages, how psychological safety grows from daily actions, and why humility keeps high performers learning. Graham closes with the “café sospeso” idea from Naples: small acts can ripple through a whole system when leaders make it easy for people to be kind. Productivity may start with managing attention, but sustained performance grows from the culture that leaders create. Get your copy of KIND: The quiet power of kindness at work Book Graham to speak Subscribe to Karl’s Leadership Writing. 👉 Who is Karl Pister? 👉 Follow us on LinkedIn. 👉 Have access to leadership materials that will level up your game. 👉 Contact us on our website. 👉 Subscribe to Karl's YouTube channel. Ready to level up your leadership skills? Sign up for The Coaching Group's leadership courses.

    56 min

  6. NOV 10

    Episode 161: Bespoke Human Potential with Curtis McCullom

    In this episode of the Healthcare Leadership Excellence podcast, I sit down with coach and podcaster Curtis McCullom to dig into human potential—what really changes behavior and how leaders can reach flow on purpose. Curtis shares his path from 35+ years in financial services to coaching with hypnotherapy, NLP, and Mental & Emotional Release (MER). We clear up myths about hypnosis, talk about the conscious vs. subconscious split, and look at why language shapes state, which shapes behavior. Curtis explains anchoring, self-hypnosis, and a “learning/peripheral” state leaders can use before high-stakes work. We also press on evidence, sustainability, and how to work with skeptics. Curtis’ LEGIT framework—Learning, Growing, Expanding, Transforming—gives a simple arc for change, and his bespoke approach meets each leader where they are. I leave with practical ways to condition the mind daily, not just in the moment. Show notes: Curtis’ path: sales records → coaching → certifications in clinical hypnotherapy, NLP (master practitioner), MERClearing myths: stage hypnosis vs. therapeutic trance; why we slip into trance all day longThe 5% / 95% idea: conscious goals vs. subconscious patterns and habitsNLP in practice: the language we use → internal representation → state → behaviorMER basics: find the root event, get the learning, release the stored charge, cascade the learning forwardSustainability: daily “mental supplement” audio + self-hypnosis to condition the new patternEntering flow on purpose: anchoring peak states; brief trance; widening peripheral attention (“learning state”)Working with skeptics and hard-charging cultures: start with values, model of the world, and bespoke pathwaysSubscribe to Karl’s Leadership Writing. 👉 Who is Karl Pister? 👉 Follow us on LinkedIn. 👉 Have access to leadership materials that will level up your game. 👉 Contact us on our website. 👉 Subscribe to Karl's YouTube channel. Ready to level up your leadership skills? Sign up for The Coaching Group's leadership courses.

    39 min

  7. NOV 3

    Episode 160: Performance Science for Leaders with Dr. Carla Fowler, MD PhD

    In this episode of the Healthcare Leadership Excellence Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Carla Fowler, MD PhD, a performance coach with a medical and research background, to break leadership into four practical buckets: strategy, execution, mindset, and biology. We talk about ten-minute strategy, why dialogue beats top-down directives, how capability, visibility, and influence drive execution, and why biology sets the floor for performance. We also get into how great leaders think: when to trust pattern recognition and when to slow down for deeper work. If you are new to leadership or you are rebuilding your approach, this conversation gives you tools you can use today. Key Takeaways Ten-minute strategy: define success, surface the 3–4 highest-leverage priorities, and name what you will not do.Execution lives in the how: align to team capabilities, give visibility, and share influence on approach.Biology sets the platform: sleep, breathing resets, daylight, movement, connection; pair stress with purpose.Mindset reframes stress: beliefs about stress shift whether it becomes inflammatory or fuels learning and connection.Thinking like a leader: create space to write; use prompts to move from reacting to understanding.Clarity motivates: write the goal and priorities, share V1 with the team, refine in one-on-ones.Learn more about Dr. Carla Fowler: https://www.thaxa.com/p/healthcare-leadership-excellencehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/carla-fowler/https://twitter.com/DrCarlaFowlerhttps://www.instagram.com/drcarlafowler/https://www.youtube.com/@drcarlafowlerSubscribe to Karl’s Leadership Writing. 👉 Who is Karl Pister? 👉 Follow us on LinkedIn. 👉 Have access to leadership materials that will level up your game. 👉 Contact us on our website. 👉 Subscribe to Karl's YouTube channel. Ready to level up your leadership skills? Sign up for The Coaching Group's leadership courses.

    45 min

  8. OCT 27

    Episode 159: The Phoenix Blueprint with Dr. Emma Jones

    In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Emma Jones, author of The Phoenix Blueprint and a triple-boarded hospice and palliative care physician in Boston. She brings clear, road-tested practices that work for clinicians in the trenches. Dr. Jones shares her story of hitting burnout a dozen years into practice and how she builds her way back without gurus or gimmicks. We unpack a core distinction: intention vs. attachment. Set a clear aim, hold the plan with an open palm, and pivot when Flight 274 gets canceled. She explains the science behind this shift (neuroplasticity) and why many of us have grit but not true resilience until we re-pattern our brains. We get practical. She teaches portable resets you can do in a parked car before a shift: box breathing, alternate-nostril breathing, a quick “soundtrack of awesome” to change state, and the mindset to “redose” during the day. We reframe work-life balance into blend, then into integration: “Where my feet are, my brain is there too.” Presence becomes a leadership advantage, especially in conflict and high-stakes conversations. Dr. Jones also outlines her work at Recharge Studio and the Healthcare Visionary Academy, built to care for the people who care for patients. If burnout is close to home, this episode gives you language, tools, and hope you can use today. Subscribe to Karl’s Leadership Writing. 👉 Who is Karl Pister? 👉 Follow us on LinkedIn. 👉 Have access to leadership materials that will level up your game. 👉 Contact us on our website. 👉 Subscribe to Karl's YouTube channel. Ready to level up your leadership skills? Sign up for The Coaching Group's leadership courses.

    49 min
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5 Ratings

About

The Healthcare Leadership Excellence podcast was created to share valuable insights around leadership, communication, emotional intelligence and conflict resolution. Karl Pister, with over 30 years of coaching experience, is a passionate advocate of excellent and influential leadership. In each episode, Karl discusses real-life leadership challenges through the lenses of outstanding healthcare professionals. He is committed to empowering every healthcare leader lead with integrity, excellence, and inspiration.

Information

  • Creator
    Karl Pister
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2025
  • Episodes
    171
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Healthcare Leadership Excellence
  • Show Website
    Healthcare Leadership Excellence

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