How do small, intentional actions transform your leadership, communication, and confidence in medicine and beyond? In this episode, Dr. Resa E. Lewiss, physician, author, TEDMED speaker, and host of The Visible Voices Podcast—breaks down the power of microskills: simple, actionable strategies that help you navigate conflict, set boundaries, build trust, and reclaim your agency at work.

Dr. Lewiss shares how to build a personal board of directors, why every high-achiever needs a “failure friend,” and how to confidently move through career transitions with clarity instead of fear. She also opens up about rejection, resilience, and the realities behind writing her book MicroSkills: Small Actions, Big Impact. If you're a clinician, leader, or ambitious professional looking to bring your best self to work without burnout, this conversation offers practical tools you can use immediately.

Episode Takeaways

• What microskills are and how small, repeatable actions create rapid improvement in leadership, communication, and confidence.
• How building a personal board of directors strengthens decision-making, career clarity, and professional growth.
• Why a “failure friend” is essential for emotional resilience, burnout prevention, and navigating high-stress work environments.
• What boundaries, conflict navigation, and self-advocacy look like in medicine—and how they help you reclaim agency.
• How redefining success from within leads to healthier mindset, work–life balance, and long-term career fulfillment.

About Our Guest

Dr. Resa E. Lewiss is an emergency medicine and lifestyle medicine physician, adjunct professor at Brown University, TEDMED speaker, healthcare designer, and award-winning educator, mentor, and point-of-care ultrasound specialist. She has authored over 125 peer-reviewed publications and is co-author of the award-winning business book MicroSkills: Small Actions, Big Impact (HarperCollins, 2024). Dr. Lewiss is also the creator and host of The Visible Voices Podcast, and the Academic Emergency Medicine Education & Training podcast.

Connect with Dr. Resa E. Lewiss

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/resaelewissmd/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/resaelewissmd/

The Visible Voices Podcast: https://www.thevisiblevoicespodcast.com/

Book – MicroSkills: Small Actions, Big Impact: https://a.co/d/2qbe3gT

👩‍⚕️ About the Host

Dr. Amna Shabbir, MD, NBC-HWC, CPC is a dual board-certified physician and TEDx speaker with advanced training in Integrative Well-being, Performance and Leadership Development. She speaks, coaches and consults on perfectionism, sustainable success and the well-being of high achievers.

Connect with Dr. Shabbir
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.amnashabbir/
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amna-shabbir-md/
🌍 Book Her to Speak: https://www.dramnashabbir.com/Speaking
🌐 No-Cost Application to Join The Unmasking Perfectionism Community: https://unmaskingperfectionism.com/
📹 Watch Dr. Shabbir's TEDx Talk
Perfectionism Has A Solution - It is Not What You Think: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNIzzM4Vg3s&t=3s

❌ Disclaimer

This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical or therapeutic advice. The views expressed are personal and do not reflect those of any employer or institution.

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