Claim OwnershipThe Inspired Healthcare Leader | Healthcare Leadership, Work-Life Balance, Managing Change
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The Inspired Healthcare Leader is your go-to podcast for frontline healthcare leaders who want to lead with more ease, joy, and success. I’m Mara Ergas-Zabari, a lifelong healthcare leader, consultant, and passionate supporter of those on the front lines. Each week, I’ll share personal insights, practical tips, and inspiring stories to help you reconnect with your spark and navigate the challenges of leadership.
Together, we’ll explore relevant topics to your daily work-life like overwhelm, team dynamics, and work-life balance. I’ll be approaching these topics through the lenses of personal development, human psychology, complexity, and systems science. You’ll also hear from experts who share my love for creating thriving teams and cultures. Let’s build a community where you feel seen, supported, and inspired. Join me on this journey—you deserve it!
Submit a question, request, or feedback for the podcast here: maraergaszabari.com
Or email hello@maraergaszabari.com
43 Episodes
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If you’ve been working harder but still hitting the same walls, this episode reveals the breakthrough leaders need now: shifting from fixing problems to rethinking the system that creates them. You’ll learn why old assumptions quietly limit your team’s growth, how double-loop thinking unlocks entirely new possibilities, and what future-ready leadership really looks like inside today’s complex healthcare environment. With a powerful real-world story and simple steps to spot and reshape outdated mental models, this episode will show you how to move your team from incremental improvements to true reinvention. If you’re ready to create a team that’s adaptable, resilient, and built for the future—this is the shift that changes everything.
Website: https://maraergaszabari.com/
In healthcare, we’re taught to manage through control—policies, checklists, and approvals. But what if the real key to alignment and calm is letting go just enough to create clarity? In this episode I share how “simple rules” can replace endless policies and bring teams into effortless coordination—even in chaotic environments. You’ll learn the science behind why less control leads to better outcomes, hear a real NICU success story, and get practical steps to design simple rules for your own team. Tune in to discover how structure and freedom can finally coexist—and why your next leadership breakthrough might start with doing less, not more.
Website: https://maraergaszabari.com/
Ever wonder why some days at work just flow—while others feel like you’re trudging through mud? In this episode I reveal the hidden science behind inspiration and how it fuels real-world leadership energy. You’ll learn how to tune into the quiet cues of your system, notice what brings you alive, and create conditions for synchronicity and flow—even in the complexity of healthcare. Discover four simple steps to reconnect with what breathes life into you, make better decisions faster, and transform burnout into clarity and creativity. If you’re ready to stop surviving your workdays and start co-creating them, this episode will show you how to make every day your favorite day.
Ever wondered why the same challenges keep resurfacing on your team—no matter what you try? If so, you might be bumping up against a leadership blind spot. In this episode I break down the hidden patterns, habits, and assumptions that quietly erode trust and communication in healthcare teams. With insights from psychology’s Johari Window and real-world stories from the front lines, this episode will help you replace defensiveness with curiosity and turn awareness into your most powerful leadership tool. Whether you lead a clinic, a unit, or a department, these strategies will help you build trust, confidence, and connection—one insight at a time.
Ever wish you could walk into high-stakes meetings with calm, grounded confidence instead of that racing heart and second-guessing mind? In this episode I’ll reveal how to train your brain like an elite athlete — not with spreadsheets or mantras, but through the science of visualization. You’ll learn how mental rehearsal rewires your nervous system for poise, clarity, and courage, turning the same imagination that fuels your worry into a tool for leadership excellence. Whether you’re preparing for a difficult conversation, a big presentation, or a defining career moment, this episode shows you how to stop letting stress practice for you — and start rehearsing the leader you’re meant to be.
In healthcare leadership, overload isn’t failure; it’s reality. The real skill isn’t juggling faster—it’s choosing smarter. In this episode, I share how savvy leaders say no not out of resistance, but out of intention. You’ll learn a simple, powerful framework for triaging requests—deciding which balls to catch, which to bounce, which to shelve, and which to drop on purpose. We’ll explore how to protect your focus, communicate boundaries without guilt, and even say no strategically to create bigger wins elsewhere. This episode will challenge how you define success, sanity, and sustainability in leadership—because great leadership isn’t about doing it all. It’s about choosing what matters most and saying no with confidence.
Website: https://maraergaszabari.com/
Ever walked out of a meeting feeling relieved that everyone nodded along — only to watch your “agreed-upon” plan fizzle later on? You’re not alone. In healthcare leadership, the pressure to move fast makes us crave consensus. But quick buy-in often plants the seeds of resistance, rework, and frustration. In this episode, I break down The Agreement Trap — why smart leaders fall into it, how rushing to “yes” silences crucial intelligence from your team, and what to do instead. You’ll learn practical ways to surface dissent early, check for real readiness, and move forward without creating quiet sabotage or costly backtracking. If you’ve ever wondered why your well-planned changes stall despite early smiles and nods, this one’s for you.
Feeling stuck in survival mode at work — running on adrenaline, scanning for the next problem, and holding everything together so nothing slips? It’s an exhausting way to lead — and it quietly narrows your vision, keeps you reactive, and signals to your team to play it safe. In this episode of The Inspired Healthcare Leader Podcast, I share how to shift from survival-driven leadership to a more expansive, creative, and strategic way of leading. You’ll hear my own journey from constant vigilance to calmer, bolder leadership, and get simple, doable practices that help you loosen control without risking safety. If you’ve been running on edge for too long, this episode will help you breathe easier, think bigger, and unlock more possibility — for yourself and your team.
Ever left a meeting kicking yourself for staying quiet—even though you knew you had something important to say? Or maybe you spoke up, but it came out stiff, and you wondered if people really heard you. That’s the struggle of finding your leadership voice—and it’s more common than you think. In this episode, I break down why your voice matters more than your title, how silence can quietly erode your influence, and the science-backed ways to build a voice that feels authentic and carries weight. You’ll also hear a real story of a nurse manager who transformed her impact by speaking up at the right moment. If you’ve ever worried that your leadership presence isn’t landing, this conversation will give you the tools to grow your voice and lead with conviction.
Ever leave work more drained from the drama than the workload? It might be the quiet “yes” that secretly means “no,” the stalled follow-through, the vague emails, the smiles with no real commitment behind them. These subtle behaviors can quietly stall progress, erode trust, and drain your team’s energy. In this episode, I reveal what’s really behind this kind of hidden resistance—known as passive-aggressive behavior—why it shows up so often in healthcare, and how to turn it from a trust-killer into honest dialogue and real follow-through. Get ready to end the stall, spark the momentum, and get your team moving forward again!
If you’ve ever wished for just one day without problems, this episode will flip that desire on its head. In healthcare leadership, the constant stream of staffing crises, patient complaints, and broken workflows isn’t proof of failure—it’s proof that leadership is alive and working as designed. The real secret? Not all problems are created equal. Some point to toxic soil, while others signal that your team is moving into richer, more innovative territory. In this provocative reframe, I’ll show you how to diagnose the health of your team by the types of problems you’re facing, why chasing “smooth sailing” is a trap, and how to start seeing problems as mile markers of growth rather than signs of dysfunction. If you’ve been feeling buried under endless issues, this episode will help you see that what looks like chaos may actually be cultivation.
Website: https://maraergaszabari.com/
Healthcare leadership can feel like a nonstop mental CrossFit competition — constant curveballs, competing demands, and high-stakes decisions. But here’s the truth: real progress in mindset work shows up not in what you add, but in what you stop doing. In this episode, I unpack the 7 things you naturally let go of when you’ve truly begun mastering your mind. You’ll learn how to spot your own progress, why your mental state shapes the energy of your entire team, and how neuroscience shows us that rewiring happens one intentional pause at a time. If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re actually moving the needle on your mindset work, this episode will give you both clarity and hope.
Website: https://maraergaszabari.com/
Coaching doesn’t have to mean pulling someone into your office for a heavy, formal sit-down. In fact, the most powerful coaching happens in the in-between moments — the hallway chats, the nurses’ station conversations, the quick reflections that feel almost ordinary. In this episode of The Inspired Healthcare Leader Podcast, I reveal the magic of identity-based reframes that transform behavior faster than traditional feedback, how to use strengths-based leadership to spark growth, and the three simple moves that turn casual conversations into catalysts for real change. If you’ve ever felt like you don’t have time for coaching, this episode will show you how the smallest comments can create the biggest shifts.
Website: https://maraergaszabari.com/
Work-life balance is a myth — especially in healthcare leadership. But that doesn’t mean you’re destined to live drained and depleted. In this episode of The Inspired Healthcare Leader Podcast, I invite you to reimagine your leadership life through work-life integration. Instead of chasing impossible balance, you’ll discover how to weave your values into both work and life so the things that matter most show up in both spaces. Discover how to tap into your natural rhythms, and create a sustainable way of working that fuels both your career and your life. If balance feels impossible, this episode will show you the mindset shift that makes leadership feel not just survivable — but deeply fulfilling.
Website: https://maraergaszabari.com/
You may think your legacy as a healthcare leader will come later — after you’ve achieved more, climbed higher, or finally “figured it all out.” But here’s the truth: your legacy is already in motion. Every interaction, every decision, every moment you show up with integrity and care is shaping lives right now. In this episode, we uncover the quiet, powerful ways leaders influence their teams and patients every day — often without realizing it. You’ll hear real-world stories from the frontlines, the behavioral science that proves your presence matters, and practical ways to notice and nurture the impact you’re already making. If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re making a difference, this episode will remind you: you are someone’s anchor, and your ripple effect has already begun.
Website: https://maraergaszabari.com/
Why does the same stressor light one healthcare leader up and completely flatten another? In this episode of The Inspired Healthcare Leader Podcast, I dive into the fascinating science of good and bad stress. You’ll discover why your brain’s interpretation—not the situation itself—determines whether stress fuels you or fries you. With real-world stories and practical strategies, you’ll learn how to reclaim calm, create micro-agency, and flip overwhelming challenges into moments of growth. If you’ve ever wondered, “Am I even cut out for this?”—this episode is your answer.
Ever catch yourself replaying conversations with your boss or a colleague, wondering if it’s all in your head—or if something’s truly off? In this episode of The Inspired Healthcare Leader, we dive deep into why that low-grade tension matters more than you think. You’ll learn about the science of relational coordination, how weak work relationships drain your energy and sabotage performance, and the practical steps to have those brave, course-correcting conversations that build trust, clarity, and genuine partnership. If you’re tired of overanalyzing emails, dodging awkward encounters, or feeling slightly bruised after every interaction—this episode is your roadmap to stronger, smoother, more human connections at work. Tune in, because fixing the vibe isn’t just personal—it’s leadership mastery.
Struggling to get honest feedback from your team or colleagues? You’re not alone—and you’re not doing anything wrong. In this episode of The Inspired Healthcare Leader, we unpack why traditional feedback-seeking often backfires, and how one simple shift—asking for advice instead—can change everything. Backed by research from Harvard and brought to life through a powerful real-world story, this episode offers a fresh, science-backed approach to getting real insight, building trust, and creating a culture of continuous improvement. If you’ve ever felt like you’re flying blind as a leader, this one’s for you.
Website: https://maraergaszabari.com/
Is your team stuck in a cycle of miscommunication, low trust, or behind-the-back gossip? In this episode, we dive into the single most powerful leadership move you can make to shift your team from dysfunction to cohesion: co-created team agreements. Learn how this simple yet science-backed strategy taps into systems thinking, psychological safety, and self-organization to reset how your team works together. Whether you're managing ongoing tension or just want to strengthen your team's foundation, this episode gives you a clear step-by-step framework to build shared accountability, boost trust, and actually move forward—together.
Website: https://maraergaszabari.com/
Ever wonder why your desperate pleas for more staff or resources feel like their falling on deaf ears, while thriving departments are getting their resource requests approved? It’s not personal. It’s a predictable system pattern called “Success to the Successful,” and it might be the single biggest reason your team stays under-resourced. In this episode, we’ll unpack the powerful feedback loops driving decisions in healthcare, explore why small wins matter way more than you think, and show you how to flip the script—so instead of spotlighting your struggles, you start building unstoppable momentum that leadership wants to invest in. Don’t keep spinning your wheels; learn how to get your own success snowball rolling.
Website: https://maraergaszabari.com/
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