Kern FMC/HealthEdge

06/16/2025

📢 Leaders, like it or not—you’re living in a fishbowl. 🐠

People watch how you lead even when you think they aren’t.

Are you setting the right example?
Are you influencing intentionally?

Read the Leadership Tip below for 6 practical ways to lead by example. 👏

Leadership Tip: The Power of What Your Team Sees (Not Just What You Say)

"My role model didn’t tell me, he showed me." — Anonymous
Like it or not, if you’re in a leadership role, you live in a fishbowl.

People watch you, whether you notice or not. They observe, judge, and often imitate your behavior—good or bad.

By definition, a leader holds authority and influence. You influence others whether you intend to or not. Sometimes this influence is active—you’re coaching an employee, managing a project, leading a meeting. Other times, it’s passive and happens simply through your presence:
• The clothes you wear.
• The time you arrive or leave.
• How you handle an unexpected interruption.
• The words you choose—or don’t.
• The expression on your face during a teachable moment.

Is this fair? No. Is it reality? Yes.

If you are called to a leadership role, you are leading—all the time.
Do you have to be perfect? Absolutely not.

But striving to improve is key. Adopting a growth mindset will serve you well.

Here are six practical tips to help you lead by example:

1. Be aware. Pay attention.
Leadership is not just about you. Notice how others perceive your actions. Do people seek you out in times of need, or avoid you? Awareness is the first step toward intentional influence.

2. Adjust your style.
Flex your leadership to meet individual needs. People must look your way before they’ll listen to what you say. Help them improve and develop a love of lifelong learning.

3. Be able to say “I’m sorry.”
You will make mistakes—we all do. Saying, “I’m sorry. I wish I’d handled that differently,” goes a long way toward building trust.

4. Hold people accountable.
Being kind doesn’t mean letting things slide. Address performance issues while preserving dignity. Coach and correct with empathy, but without lowering expectations.

5. Be a role model.
Set the tone. Dress the part. Work in a way that benefits your team. Communicate clearly and often. Be consistent. Your team shouldn’t have to wonder what mood you’re in today.

6. Find a trusted sounding board.
Have a colleague you can be real with—someone who will tell you the truth. And remember: Always vent across or up, never down. Your staff should not bear the weight of your frustrations.

I view leadership as an honor and a responsibility. My goal is to positively influence those around me, so they can do the same for others. That’s how great cultures are built—one interaction at a time.

"You get the best efforts from others not by lighting a fire beneath them, but by building a fire within." — Bob Nelson

"Outstanding leaders go out of their way to boost the self-esteem of their personnel. If people believe in themselves, it’s amazing what they can accomplish." — Sam Walton

03/30/2025

🔵 🔵 Leadership Tip: Confidence, The Leadership Game Changer🔵 🔵

Written by:
Debbie Hankins, RN, BSN, MAOM
Kern FMC/HealthEdge CEO

"Confidence is contagious. So is lack of confidence." – Vince Lombardi "If you don’t have confidence, you’ll always find a way not to win." – Carl Lewis

Imagine this: A crisis hits at work. The usual solutions aren’t working. You turn to your leader for guidance, expecting reassurance and a game plan. Instead, she wrings her hands, stammers, and says, “I… I don’t know what to do! Oh no, this is bad!”

How do you feel in that moment? Do you trust her leadership? Will you continue to follow her?

The reality is, unexpected challenges are part of leadership. Things won’t always go as planned, but strong leaders step in, steady the team, and guide them forward. Even if they don’t have all the answers, they project confidence, creating calm in the chaos and instilling trust in those around them.

That doesn’t mean leaders never feel doubt. They do. The key is understanding that confidence isn’t about always knowing—it’s about how you respond. People look to their leaders for assurance, direction, and encouragement. A confident leader inspires trust, boosts morale, and fosters innovation.

Research from Harvard Business Review, Forbes, and McKinsey consistently ranks confidence as a critical leadership skill. When paired with emotional intelligence and strong communication, confidence becomes a game-changer.

So, how do you build and project confidence—even when you don’t always feel it? Here are five practical strategies to strengthen your leadership presence:

1) Be the Calm in the Storm

In a crisis, pause before reacting. Take a deep breath, lower your voice, and communicate a plan of action—even if the first step is simply, “Let’s assess the situation together.” A leader’s composure sets the tone for the team.

2) Make Decisions with Authority

You don’t need to have all the answers, but you must be decisive. Gather the best information available, make a call, and own your decision. If adjustments are needed, make them confidently—without second-guessing yourself in front of the team.

3) Use Silence as a Strength

Confident leaders don’t feel the need to fill every silence. Listen first, process, and respond thoughtfully. Sometimes, the most powerful presence in the room is the one who speaks last.

4) Delegate and Trust Your Team

Micromanagement signals insecurity. Confident leaders empower others—they delegate, step back, and let their team shine. Of course, set up monitoring processes, but trust your people and celebrate their successes. When your team grows, your confidence grows too.

5) Develop Gravitas

Gravitas is that unshakable presence that commands respect. It’s built over time through experience, learning from failures, and consistently delivering results. Leaders with gravitas exude confidence not because they are perfect, but because they have learned, adapted, and persevered.

Confidence is Built, Not Born

Every leader experiences moments of doubt. The difference between great leaders and those who struggle is their willingness to act despite uncertainty, learn from setbacks, and lead with conviction.

"As is our confidence, so is our capacity." – William Hazlitt

So, the next time doubt creeps in, remind yourself: Confidence isn’t about never falling—it’s about getting back up, learning, and leading forward.

12/13/2024

👉 Benefit Basics: Navigating your Health Plan Like a Pro Part 3: Choosing a Health Plan - No Regrets Later!

Selecting the perfect health plan doesn’t have to feel like an uphill battle. Take control of your healthcare decisions with our simple tips and key considerations for choosing the right plan that fits your needs and your budget.

🎯 Start here:

✅ Understand your healthcare needs.
✅ Learn the different types of plans (HMO, PPO, HDHP, and more).
✅ Factor in costs beyond the premium—like deductibles and co-pays.
✅ Review prescription coverage and telehealth options.

🚨 Once you enroll, your plan is yours for the year—make it count! Get the tools you need to choose wisely and live without regrets.

Read the article here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/benefit-basics-navigating-your-health-plan-like-pro-3-deborah-dbccc/

11/28/2024

🍂 Happy Thanksgiving from FMC / HealthEdge! 🍂

This Thanksgiving, we’re filled with gratitude for our incredible clients, dedicated team, and valued partners who make everything we do possible. Your trust and collaboration inspire us to deliver the best in TPA solutions, self-funded health plans, and custom networks every day.

Let’s take a moment to appreciate the connections, opportunities, and successes we share. Here’s to a holiday filled with warmth, joy, and thankfulness!

🦃 Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving!

✅ Delivering innovative solutions
✅ Supporting your health plan needs
✅ Grateful for your partnership
✅ Committed to excellence
✅ Building brighter futures together

11/22/2024

✨🌟 Leadership Tip: Let Others Shine ✨
By: Debbie Hankins, RN, BSN, MAOM

💬 "Leadership is not about being in charge. It is about taking care of those in your charge." – Simon Sinek

💡 "True leaders don’t create followers; they create more leaders." – Tom Peters

One of the most rewarding actions you can take as a leader is to empower your team to shine. 🌟 Recently, during a client meeting, my team presented insights and performance updates. Afterward, the client said, “You’re always so quiet in these meetings.” My manager laughed, “Debbie, quiet? Never!” I explained, “I let our experts lead the conversation—they deserve the credit for their hard work.”

This approach has a ripple effect: it builds confidence 💪, fosters growth 🌱, and strengthens the team 🤝. A team member once told me, “When you trusted me to lead, it gave me the confidence to take on bigger challenges.” Moments like this remind me that great leadership is about helping others realize their potential.

5️ Ways to Let Others Shine:

✨ Recognize their strengths during one-on-one conversations.
👍 Provide constructive feedback that builds confidence.
🎤 Offer opportunities to lead projects or present ideas.
📈 Support their development for the next step in their career.
🧠 Share your knowledge, including lessons learned from mistakes.
💭 Reflect: When was the last time you let someone else take the lead?

🔥 Challenge for the Week:

Identify a team member who’s ready to step up. Give them a chance to lead, encourage their efforts, and celebrate their success.

🎉 Empowering others creates stronger teams, stronger organizations, and a lasting legacy. 🏆

11/15/2024

🌟 Leadership Tip: Leading with Wisdom

"Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom." — Aristotle

"Turn your wounds into wisdom." — Oprah Winfrey

As leaders, we must hold wisdom in the highest regard. 🌱 We are called to give our best to those we serve. But where do we acquire wisdom as leaders?

Wisdom often comes from experience, embracing lessons from our mistakes, and building on sound judgment. 💡 It also grows from learning through those who have gone before us and from those just starting out in their careers. A leader cannot exist in isolation.

Reflecting on my own experiences, I once worked under a boss who was, in many ways, a model of what not to do. ❌ She made decisions in a bubble, rarely listened to input from her team, and seemed focused only on impressing her own superiors. I learned many valuable lessons from her --- primarily how not to lead.
Ultimately, her leadership style led to her departure—a reminder that wisdom in leadership is essential not only for others’ success but for our own. 🌠

Here are some practical tips to cultivate wisdom as a leader:

🗣️ Seek Feedback Regularly – True wisdom often emerges from diverse perspectives. Listen actively to those around you, including peers, mentors, and team members.

🔄 Reflect on Past Experiences – Take time to reflect on past decisions, both good and bad. Identify what worked and what didn’t and commit to continuous improvement.

🌍 Stay Curious – A wise leader is a lifelong learner. Read widely, stay informed, and attend training courses that expand your view and challenge your assumptions.

💙 Practice Empathy – Wisdom involves understanding and valuing others’ experiences. Empathy helps leaders make more balanced and considerate decisions.

🙏 Embrace Humility – Acknowledge that no one has all the answers. Being open to learning from anyone, regardless of their position, demonstrates strength and openness.

Wisdom is not something we’re born with; it’s something we grow into. 🌿 By being intentional, reflective, and open to learning from all aspects of our journey, we build the kind of wisdom that benefits both our leadership and those we serve. ✨

11/11/2024

🇺🇸 Today, we honor the strength, courage, and dedication of our veterans. Thank you to all who have served and sacrificed for our freedom. Your commitment inspires us every day!

✅ Honoring our heroes
✅ Remembering their sacrifices
✅ Celebrating their courage
✅ Grateful for their service

Happy Veterans Day! Your bravery and resilience make a difference in our lives and in our country. 🫡

11/08/2024

"Receiving feedback is like a gift; it may be unexpected, but it always holds value if we're willing to look for it."

— Unknown

As leaders, the ability to receive feedback is crucial—it demonstrates openness, humility, and a commitment to continuous improvement. When we embrace feedback with grace, we set an example for our teams, showing that everyone’s voice matters. This openness builds trust and encourages a culture where all team members feel empowered to share their perspectives, creating an environment that fosters growth.

Receiving feedback may sometimes feel challenging, especially if it catches us off guard or comes across as critical. But by approaching feedback with a learning mindset, we can find value even in difficult conversations.

Here are some strategies for handling feedback effectively:

"Receiving feedback is like a gift; it may be unexpected, but it always holds value if we're willing to look for it." — Unknown "Feedback is the bridge to growth, but only if we’re open enough to walk across.

09/26/2024

✨ Leadership Tip: The Power of Lifelong Learning in a Rapidly Evolving World

"The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn." – Alvin Toffler

"Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other." – John F. Kennedy

In leadership, being a lifelong learner is essential. The world is changing rapidly, especially in technology. As leaders, we must continuously update ourselves and adapt to stay relevant to our business and our teams. While it's not necessary to adopt every new trend, staying informed about changes that impact your staff and business partners is critical.

For instance, early in my career, face-to-face meetings were the primary mode of communication. Now, most of my meetings are virtual, a shift brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic. In my own company, we adapted quickly to remote work, which allowed us to maintain operations while reducing employee sick time. Even though many of our staff have returned to the office, the ability to work from home when needed has become a lasting and valuable change.

Similarly, the rise of social media has dramatically transformed how businesses promote themselves. While it’s a powerful tool, it requires careful management to ensure the right message is conveyed. Here are ten essential tips for maintaining a professional presence on social media:

📌 Know Your Audience
Tailor content for clients, colleagues, or industry peers.

📌 Maintain Professionalism
Avoid casual language or controversial topics.

📌 Be Consistent
Ensure branding and tone remain uniform across posts.

📌 Add Value
Share content that educates, engages, or solves problems.

📌 Use Quality Visuals
Images and videos should reflect your professionalism.

📌 Check Your Sources
Ensure accuracy and credibility in shared information.

📌 Engage Thoughtfully
Respond to comments in a respectful, meaningful way.

📌 Stay On-Brand
Keep posts aligned with your business’s values and mission.

📌 Proofread Before Posting
Avoid errors that could impact your credibility.

📌 Monitor Analytics
Track engagement to refine your social media strategy.

As leaders, our ability to embrace change while staying grounded in sound principles is what drives our success. By remaining lifelong learners, we can navigate shifts in technology, communication, and business practices while continuing to lead with purpose and foresight.