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Most healthcare practices don’t struggle because the medicine is bad. They struggle because leadership gets stretched thin, managers get promoted without support, and culture slowly drifts until turnover, drama, and “constant fires” feel normal. We sit down with HR consultant Mike Lyons to get practical about what actually helps a clinic scale: hiring the right managers, managing those managers well, and building a team environment people want to stay in.

We dig into how to hire for people skills, not just experience. Mike shares what to look for when you’re interviewing, how to pull leadership signals from real situations, and why clarity is a form of kindness. We also talk about the day-to-day mechanics of managing leaders: weekly check-ins, skip-level conversations, and simple documentation habits that reduce risk and prevent surprises. If you’ve ever thought, “I know what I should do, I just don’t have time,” we address that too with a memorable “sharpen the knife” metaphor and a delegation mindset that develops future leaders.

Culture comes up again and again, especially gratitude. We unpack how gratitude changes a leader’s mood, reduces negativity, and helps employees feel seen when they do the quiet work that keeps a practice running. You’ll also hear how to balance appreciation with constructive feedback, and why writing things down can protect both the employee and the organization in difficult HR moments.

If you lead an ophthalmology practice, optometry clinic, or any healthcare team, this conversation is built for you. Subscribe, share this with a practice manager who needs it, and leave a review so more leaders can find these tools. What’s the hardest part of management for you right now?

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This episode is brought to you by Seasoned Advice HR, where I help eye care clinics to hire, retain, and manage better — helping you get Better Results Through People. Learn more at seasoned-advice.com.

Contact me directly at mike@seasoned-advice.com

Get my free HR and leadership downloads here: https://www.seasoned-advice.com/signup-for-free-downloads