"The boss wants to see you." Those words chill hearts. I learned that fear whenever an elementary teacher said, "The principal wants to see you." Such fear never inspired my best. 

   Leaders seen as "bosses" can generate tension that triggers paralysis instead of movement. If we "brace" for difficult encounters we may short-circuit our highest humanity.  

   Genius must marry bravery to birth success. Why? “Because genius is not enough. It takes courage to change people’s hearts,” Peter Farrelly wrote in the screenplay for "The Green Book." 

   Radical Loving Care calls leaders to reimagine difficult conversations as sacred communions. Jesus' Love is the living water of genius & the bread is the courage that makes Love manifest.

   How does that inspire better performance? We are all children of God. Love requires replacing vertical, fear-based, boss-employee models with circular, love-based partnerships.  

   A partnership of trust values each adult. The healthcare leader is still coach, can change "players" & also understands that she or he is neither a direct caregiver nor more important. Each partner has a crucial role & each patient needs the whole team. 

   No one respects a boss who bullies employees out of jobs.

   "Because genius is not enough" partners respect leaders with the courage to change the team. To do this, they enable peak patient care by creating the best human experience for all, not just for the bosses. 

-Erie Chapman 

Leadership diagram: Erie Chapman