What happens when we stop treating “data” like a spreadsheet… and start treating it like a story?

In this conversation with Emily and Fiona from the Health Roundtable, we explore how data can become a steady compass for safer care, healthier teams, and smarter decisions — without slipping into judgement, blame, or noise. We talk data literacy (why so many of us left uni without the “so what?”), the quiet power of benchmarking done well, and the small, practical moves that help leaders and clinicians stay anchored inside their circle of control.

There’s also a tender, confronting story about what workforce strain can look like at the bedside — and why patient outcomes and staff wellbeing are never separate for long.

In this episode, we unpack:

• Why data is only useful when it becomes action
• Building data literacy in everyday clinical life (not just in research units)
• Benchmarking as learning, not punishment
• “Be the emotional scientist, not the judge” — curiosity that leads to better solutions
• The pebble in the shoe: small irritations that signal bigger system issues
• A simple way to reset: circle of control thinking for overwhelmed teams

Your next-shift action (60 seconds)

At handover, ask:
“What’s one pebble we can remove this week — and what tiny change will we trial for 7 days?”
Then check back in a week. Small experiments. Clear learning. Real movement.

👉 Tea Room Notes: Here
📩 Share this episode: If it helped you name a pebble, send it to a colleague who’s carrying one too.

Better Every Shift — less noise, more signal, and a little delight along the way.

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