Match Their Energy

Healthcare runs on energy, and most of the time it's ours. We show up, give it away all day, and go home empty. But it's not our job to be the engine for every patient.

Some patients walk in fired up. Your job is to channel that energy before it burns out. Others walk in on empty. They're ready, but pain, fatigue, or a rough week has drained them, and they need you to bring the energy today. Others are ambivalent. They're not there yet, and they're hoping you'll bring enough energy for both of you, every time.

There's a difference between giving someone a jump start and pushing the car. Pouring more of yourself into a patient who isn't ready won't make them ready–it will just drain you.

Meet them where they are. Know when to push on the gas and when to coast alongside them until they're ready to accelerate. Match their energy so you can save yours for the moments it can actually move someone forward, and still have some left in the tank for you.