The Legacy of THEMpowerment
"Empowerment is not about giving people power, it’s about unlocking the power they already have." — John P. Kotter
Most of us entered the healthcare profession driven by a calling—a voice inside us that says, “This matters to me. I can help.” But somewhere along the way, amid protocols, pressure, and paperwork, that voice can get muffled. Stephen Covey’s “8th Habit”—Find your voice and inspire others to find theirs—isn’t a mere add-on to the original seven. It’s the crescendo. It challenges us not just to live effectively, but to live meaningfully and help others do the same. In a time when burnout is real and disconnection and discontent is rampant, this habit offers a path back to purpose.
I remember clearly that unsure young physician, sitting in the study of an esteemed mentor discussing the Gandhi quote on his desk: “I must follow them, for I am their leader.” During that conversation, the following wisdom was passed along; “Don’t aspire to be like me or do what I’ve done. Take the best of what you’ve learned from me and through your unique gifts and circumstances, you will have great impact in your own way. This I am confident of.” It was in that moment that something was released—even ignited within that emerging physician leader, as someone else was revealing and calling out something in him that he had not yet recognized in himself.
Covey describes “voice” as the intersection of talent, passion, need, and conscience. When we align what we’re good at with what we love, what the world needs, and what we are called to do, we tap into a deep reservoir of purpose. Studies in leadership development affirm that professionals who operate from this place of alignment experience less burnout, greater job satisfaction, and stronger influence. And when leaders use their platform to lift others, the ripple effect can transform entire cultures—whether that be with organizations, communities, or even families.
That young physician was me and the mentor, B. Lewis Barnett, Jr., my Department Chair. A seed was planted that evening that not only can one be an excellent early career physician, but also an impactful leader, and that I was being called to be both. Our talk just prior to my graduating from residency has informed every professional decision I have made since then, including the one to start the PeerRxMed platform and process. Indeed, feeling my own “voice” be released from the burden of trying to emulate a mentor reinforced my belief that voice-finding is necessarily communal. We discover our voice in the presence of those who listen, believe, and invite. And we solidify it by doing the same for others. Leadership in healthcare doesn’t always or even necessarily mean titles or tenure—it means courageously bringing our whole selves to the work, and making space for others to do the same.
This week, consider where your own talents, passion, conscience, and the world’s need intersect. Are you operating from that space—or simply surviving? If you are the latter, what is one small step you could take towards better aligning yourself? Then, look around. Who in your orbit might be searching for their voice? How can you help them hear it more clearly? Wherever you are in this space, share these reflections with your PeerRx partner and invite their insights. Because when we find our voice and help others find theirs, we don’t just become more effective professionals—we become more human, more connected, and more alive. And maybe, just maybe, that’s what the world needs most right now.