Lead with the Heart

by Melody Trimble, FACHE, CPPS

In healthcare leadership, we spend years mastering systems, strategy, and metrics. And those matter. But leadership rarely breaks down because someone lacked a tool, it breaks down at the human level. Under pressure, leaders default to character. When communication falters or teams disengage, the issue is often trust and connection. That is why leadership must be built from the inside out.

I call it HEART leadership.

Humility, Empathy, Accountability, Resilience, and Trust. These are not soft skills; they are the skills. Because you can have the best strategy, but without trust, people won’t follow. You can know every metric, but without empathy, you won’t connect. Without connection you won’t gain commitment.

In healthcare especially, leadership is deeply human work. It shows up in conversations, decisions, and moments that matter most. Before we ask leaders to do more, we must help them become more. Because who you are always shows up before what you know. Lead with clarity. Lead with steadiness. Most of all, lead with heart.

My work with leaders, teams, and organizations builds on this foundation of leading with the heart. Discover options to work together through workshops, speaking engagements, and one-on-one coaching.