Episode 167: Letting Go Without Losing Control with Laurie Baedke

Healthcare Leadership Excellence · Jan 12, 2026 · 40m

In this episode, I sit down again with Laurie Baedke to tackle a topic that hits close to home for many leaders: control. We start with an honest admission: what makes us successful early in our careers often involves tight control, precision, and personal ownership. The problem is that those same habits quietly stop working as our roles expand.

Laurie walks through why high-achieving professionals, especially physicians and executives, struggle to let go. We talk about the psychology behind control, the discouragement that comes with needing new skills, and why leadership plateaus feel so…