Are you frustrated by staff turnover, slipping patient reviews, or a practice that feels harder to manage than it should? If you’ve ever wondered how top practices keep their teams engaged and their patients happy, you are not alone.

Each week in Calm the Chaos, I share proven strategies, real stories, and practical tech solutions to help you calm the noise and build the practice you envisioned.

This week’s focus is leadership at every level. Whether you are the owner, a partner, or the go-to team member, your example sets the tone for patient care, team culture, and overall performance.

STORY TIME:

How One Physician’s Mindset Shift Saved His Team

BEFORE THE FIX

A talented medical assistant felt micromanaged and unheard. Her ideas for improving the workflow were overlooked. The founding physician assumed everything was fine until staff started leaving, morale dropped, and negative patient reviews reflected the tension inside the practice.

THE SOLUTION

With support and a willingness to look at his own habits, the physician took full responsibility for the culture. He invited honest feedback, listened openly, and made real changes. As he later said, “I didn’t realize how much my habits shaped our culture until I listened.”

THE RESULTS

The medical assistant stayed and became an advocate for the practice. The team’s culture improved, and the physician’s leadership became a strength. What did the medical assistant say after the shift? “I feel heard and hopeful.”

ACTIONABLE TIPS FOR THE WEEK:

Four ways to lead from the top, no matter your title:

1️⃣ Take 100 percent responsibility - Stop blaming staff, partners, or the system. Your team reflects your attitude and actions. Growth starts with owning your role in every outcome, whether it is positive or negative.

2️⃣ Examine your own habits and impact - Are you unintentionally adding stress? Are you showing appreciation and clarity, or creating confusion? Leadership improvement starts with honest self-awareness.

3️⃣ Let go of blame and focus on solutions - Even when an issue is not your fault, step in with solutions. Leaders inspire accountability, not excuses.

4️⃣ Eliminate “that’s not my problem” from your vocabulary - Every challenge in your practice impacts patient care. Encourage your team to look for ways to improve things, regardless of their role.

Micro-Challenge:

This week, ask your team one thing you could do differently as a leader or as a teammate. Reply to this email and let me know what you learn. I read every response.

TANIA'S TECH TIPS:

Track leadership habits with a simple Trello board or a Google Doc.

Why it works:

When you visualize your leadership routines, it becomes easier to stay consistent, spot progress, and celebrate wins.

Quick setup:

• Create a weekly Leadership Focus board
• Add cards or rows for staff feedback, meeting follow-ups, and improvement projects
• Set recurring reminders for one-on-ones, gratitude moments, or team huddles

💡 Pro tip: Start simple and let your system grow with your team.

WHAT I’M READING:

Atomic Habits by James Clear

This book is a game-changer for any leader. Small actions, repeated daily, transform your team and your culture.

“You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.”

SMALL CHANGES, BIG RESULTS

Leadership starts at the top, but your team carries it through every patient interaction. If you want a front desk that communicates with confidence and medical assistants who make patients feel seen, Everyone’s a VIP: Mastering Patient Communications for Excellence is the training that helps you give your team the tools and confidence you wish they had on day one.

TRAIN THE TEAM

P.S. Missed my recent masterclass, "How to Hire Superstars for Your Medical Practice (and How to Keep Them)"? You can catch the replay and learn step-by-step strategies for attracting and retaining top talent. → Watch the Replay