In today's episode of the Healthcare Leadership Excellence podcast, I chat with Dr. Joe Sniezek, a distinguished surgeon at the Swedish organization in Seattle. Dr. Sniezek's leadership journey began at West Point, followed by medical school at Vanderbilt, a five-year otolaryngology residency, and a fellowship in head and neck surgery. His career took him to hospitals like Tripler Army Medical Center in Hawaii, where he served as residency program director and department chair. In 2014, he joined the Swedish organization, where he now leads as the medical director of head and neck endocrine surgery and chairs the Surgical Quality Review Committee.

We discuss Dr. Sniezek's leadership approach, shaped by his military training, which emphasizes serving those you lead. He shares the challenges and rewards of transitioning from a clinical role to a leadership position and talks about the importance of maintaining confidence, even when faced with the fear of not being liked—a common struggle for many new leaders.

Dr. Sniezek offers practical advice for new leaders, including finding a mentor, building a peer support network, and engaging in continuous professional development. We also explore the difficult but necessary task of handling conflict and providing feedback, especially in challenging conversations with peers or direct reports.

Throughout our conversation, Dr. Sniezek discusses setting clear values and expectations within a team, creating an environment where it's okay to make mistakes, and encouraging innovative thinking. He emphasizes the importance of understanding and appreciating different perspectives to lead diverse teams effectively. This episode is filled with practical insights for both new and experienced leaders in healthcare, offering a unique perspective from Dr. Sniezek's blend of military and medical leadership experience.

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