Someone came at her hot. Frustrated, ready to blow, full of complaints after a board meeting. And instead of getting defensive, she did something unexpected. She got curious.

In this episode of Willing to Grow, Amy Lafko shares a story from a friend of what happened when she slowed down and asked just a handful of words: "Can you tell me more?"

What unfolded from there is a masterclass in what it actually means to lead through conflict rather than around it. If you've got a difficult conversation ahead of you, this one is worth a listen before you walk in the room. Listen in to unpack why leading with curiosity is not only emotionally intelligent, but also strategically smart for any healthcare team trying to move forward together.

Transcript: https://tinyurl.com/mry5449e

It feels like the problem is obvious. You've already identified it. You've already started planning the solution. And then someone asks one more question, and everything shifts.

In this episode of Willing to Grow, Amy Lafko shares a coaching conversation that illustrates one of the most common and costly mistakes healthcare leaders make: solving confidently for the wrong thing. Amy explores why our instinct to find the fastest, least disruptive path to a solution can actually lead us further from resolution, and what happens when we take a few extra minutes to challenge our own assumptions before we act.

If you've ever found yourself frustrated that a solution didn't actually solve anything, or even made things worse, hit play.

Transcript: https://tinyurl.com/e86tc5f2

Most hiring conversations focus on getting the right person through the door. So, what happens when the wrong person is already inside, and they're not leaving on their own?

In this episode of Willing to Grow, Amy Lafko tackles one of the most common and most avoided challenges in healthcare leadership: what to do when someone is technically doing their job, but quietly, or not so quietly, tearing up the culture you've worked so hard to build.

Listen in to explore the difference between a performance problem and a culture problem, and why the distinction matters more than most leaders realize.

Read more: https://tinyurl.com/yjj4dm72

Transcript: https://tinyurl.com/4vk79xz9

It started with a flipped-over, seemingly harmless soap dish in a hotel bathroom. It shouldn't have been a big deal…but you'll never believe the stir it caused.

In this episode of Willing to Grow, Amy Lafko shares a story that might sound small but hits remarkably close to home for anyone who has ever walked into a difficult conversation absolutely certain they were right.

There's a difference between knowing what you see and knowing what IS true. This episode will challenge you to ask which one you're actually leading from, and how to deal with the upside down soap dish moments in your work life.

Transcript: https://tinyurl.com/3rcwpcxk

You invested time, energy, and resources into a training session. Your team attended. And then...not much changed. Sound familiar?

In this episode, Amy Lafko tackles one of the most common (and costly) mistakes leaders make when developing their teams: treating training as a one-time event. Whether it's a conference, a webinar, a technical skills session, or a leadership program, the transfer of knowledge is just the beginning. The real transformation happens after the room clears.

Amy introduces a simple but powerful concept she has built into every one of her leadership and training programs: the Learning Lab. It's not a follow-up for the sake of following up; it's a deliberately timed, intentionally structured session designed to turn knowledge into wisdom through real-world application, honest reflection, and yes, a little practice.

If you lead a healthcare practice or manage a clinical team, this episode will change how you think about every training investment you make, and give you a concrete next step you can implement immediately.

Transcript: https://tinyurl.com/5dn29k68

Firing someone. It's the conversation no one wants to have, and yet it's one of the most common things healthcare leaders and practice managers reach out to Amy about.

And the question is almost always the same:

Can I still be People First if I let someone go?

In this episode, Amy pulls back the curtain on a recent experience where she had to let someone go, walking you through the four mistakes she made along the way and what each one taught her about leadership, organizational design, and the gap between who we hire and what our organizations actually need.

If you've ever questioned whether letting someone go aligns with a people-centered leadership philosophy, this episode will challenge your assumptions, give you a practical framework for thinking it through, and leave you with three reflective questions to ask before you make your next move.

Transcript: https://tinyurl.com/4stktm36

Surveys going out. Responses not coming in. The same ten people answer every time. If you've led a team, a practice, or an organization for any length of time, you've probably been there.

In this episode, Amy Lafko shares a story from a recent facilitation experience in Alaska. What she brought to the room wasn't another survey or an open-ended group discussion. It was something far more unexpected: markers, flip chart paper, and a challenge to design a magazine cover.

What happened next surprised even the most skeptical people in the room.

Whether you're trying to re-engage a stagnant team, plan for the year ahead, or just break out of the meeting rut, this episode gives you a concrete tool you can pick up and use immediately, along with a few important facilitation tips that make all the difference.

Transcript: https://tinyurl.com/hchkfk4u

"I tried everything you recommended, Amy, and nothing has changed."

In this episode, Amy tackles a message she received directly on LinkedIn from a frustrated leader who was doing "all the right things."

They'd had the performance conversations, outlined the steps, and followed all the right leadership advice—but their team member's performance was still completely stalled.

It's a common hurdle in leadership, but the solution to getting unstuck is more nuanced than it might first appear.

If you're navigating a performance conversation that feels like a dead end, or you want to be better prepared for the next one, this episode is your guide.

Transcript: https://tinyurl.com/4revcph8