Walk in Their Shoes: The Engaged Leader's Advantage

As healthcare organizations grow in both size and complexity, so does the distance between executive decision-making and frontline care. This disconnect can jeopardize patient safety, diminish staff morale and erode organizational culture. Walk in Their Shoes offers healthcare leaders practical strategies to close this critical gap.

Focused on cultivating meaningful, sustained connections with staff across clinical and nonclinical settings, this book underscores the importance of trust and engagement in building high-performing, resilient teams.

Grounded in research and real-world relevance, the book provides actionable guidance to help senior leaders understand the day-to-day realities of work in nursing units, clinics, support services and more. It also reminds leaders with clinical backgrounds to remain rooted in their professional origins.

This accessible and pragmatic resource emphasizes that trust is not built through quick interactions but through consistent, thoughtful presence. It also reminds leaders that those who foster connectedness see measurable outcomes: improved communication, greater staff retention and most importantly, better patient care.

Carson F. Dye, FACHE is president & CEO of Exceptional Leadership, LLC, with 40+ years in healthcare leadership, executive search, and physician engagement. He has authored 17 books and taught for ACHE, The Governance Institute and major universities. Lily Jung Henson, MD, MMM, FAAN, FACHE is CEO of the Piedmont Augusta Hub and a board-certified neurologist. She serves on multiple state and national boards and held leadership roles across Georgia and Washington. Brett D. Lee, FACHE is SVP at Ascension Health, with prior executive roles at Texas Health and a background in physical therapy, health finance, and leadership.