The Leader’s Abstract

Dr. Jeremy Rutter

Welcome to the leaders abstract The podcast about the inner work of leadership Here we explore the ideas Habits And blind spots That shape How Mission driven leaders Show up For their teams and the communities they serve

  1. Aug 18

    Mission vs Margin

    In this episode of The Leader's Abstract, Dr. Jeremy Rutter and Joseph Tomaino tackle one of the most difficult questions facing nonprofit and long-term care leaders today: How do you balance mission with margin?For mission-driven organizations, the word margin can sometimes feel uncomfortable. But financial sustainability isn't necessarily the enemy of mission. In fact, generating a healthy margin may be what allows an organization to continue serving its community, invest in employees, maintain its facilities, and support programs that can't sustain themselves financially.Jeremy and Joe explore the tension between mission, financial sustainability, and the difficult decisions leaders must make to ensure their organizations remain viable for the future.In this episode, they discuss:Why mission and margin don't have to be competing prioritiesThe difference between protecting your mission and protecting traditionWhy financially responsible decisions can be some of the hardest decisions leaders makeHow leaner management structures can redirect resources toward front-line and direct-care staffWhat to do with programs that are deeply aligned with the mission but aren't financially sustainableThe role of grants, philanthropy, foundations, and cross-subsidizationHow the growing preference for home and community-based care is changing long-term careWhen organizations should consider closing, consolidating, or repurposing traditional servicesWhy sustainability involves more than money—including workforce, wages, infrastructure, and changing community needsOne of the central questions of the conversation is:"What are you protecting? Are you protecting your mission, or are you protecting your tradition?"Sometimes protecting the mission means making difficult changes today so that the organization can continue serving people tomorrow.Mission gives an organization its purpose. Margin gives it the capacity to pursue that purpose.What do you think? Can a nonprofit truly fulfill its mission without financial margin?The Leader's AbstractHosted by Dr. Jeremy Rutter, PhD & Joseph Tomaino, MS, RN#MissionAndMargin #NonprofitLeadership #HealthcareLeadership #LongTermCare #Leadership #NonprofitManagement #HealthcareManagement #MissionDriven #OrganizationalLeadership #TheLeadersAbstract #LeadershipPodcast #FinancialSustainability

  2. Aug 5

    Helping Leaders Succeed

    In this episode of The Leader's Abstract, Dr. Jeremy Rutter and Joe Tomaino sit down with legendary healthcare leadership consultant Clint Maun to explore the leadership principles that have shaped decades of success in long-term care and healthcare organizations. From growing up on a Missouri hog farm to becoming a nationally recognized consultant, Clint shares practical, experience-driven lessons that leaders can apply immediately. In this conversation, you'll learn:Why retention matters more than recruitment.The "No BMG" philosophy and how it creates a solution-focused culture.How to hire people who genuinely care about serving others.Why frontline managers need coaching, not just promotions.The three rules for giving effective feedback: immediate, specific, and pure.How leadership rounding builds trust and accountability.Practical ways AI can support leaders without replacing human relationships.Why great organizations prepare for success every day instead of reacting to crises. Whether you lead a nursing home, hospital, nonprofit, or any mission-driven organization, this episode is packed with actionable leadership insights you can put into practice right away. Connect with Clint Maun: Website: maunlemke.com Email: clint@clintmaun.comIf you enjoyed this episode, be sure to:Like the videoSubscribe to The Leader's AbstractLeave a comment with your biggest leadership takeawayShare this episode with someone who leads a teamFeel free to connect with Joe & Jeremyjtomaino@grassihealthcareadvisors.comleadersabstract@gmail.com#Leadership #HealthcareLeadership #LongTermCare #Management #OrganizationalCulture #EmployeeEngagement #Retention #ArtificialIntelligence #Healthcare #TheLeadersAbstract

  3. Jul 21

    From Me to We: the Psychology of Collective Leadership with Dr. Eric Hieger

    Is great leadership about developing better individuals or building stronger teams?In this episode of The Leader’s Abstract, Dr. Jeremy Rutter and Joseph Tomaino welcome Dr. Eric Hieger, CEO and Managing Partner of TransformX, for a thought-provoking conversation on why the future of leadership begins with “we,” not “me.”Drawing from his background in clinical psychology, Dr. Hieger challenges traditional leadership development models that focus primarily on individual traits. Instead, he explores how culture, context, and collective identity shape high-performing organizations.Together, they discuss:* Why leadership is a property of the system and not just the individual* The Three C’s of leadership: Context, Culture, and Climate* How strengths-based leadership outperforms deficiency-focused management* Turning data into meaningful action with the “So What? Now What?” framework* Lessons healthcare can learn from military after-action reviews* Creating psychologically safe teams where learning replaces blame* Why celebrating what’s working may be just as important as fixing what’s brokenWhether you’re a healthcare executive, nonprofit leader, manager, or anyone responsible for building teams, this conversation offers practical insights for creating organizations where people and performance can thrive.Leadership isn’t about creating better heroes. It’s about creating better systems.🎙️ Guest: Dr. Eric Hieger, CEO & Managing Partner, TransformX🎧 Hosted by: Dr. Jeremy Rutter & Joseph Tomaino#Leadership #OrganizationalCulture #BusinessPsychology #HealthcareLeadership #Teamwork #LeadershipDevelopment #Psychology #ExecutiveLeadership #TransformationalLeadership #TheLeadersAbstract

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Welcome to the leaders abstract The podcast about the inner work of leadership Here we explore the ideas Habits And blind spots That shape How Mission driven leaders Show up For their teams and the communities they serve