Lived experience matters: transforming healthcare through kindness and collaboration

As I reflect on my leadership journey, I have learnt that when we actively seek and purposefully engage with the knowledge others bring, we express the highest levels of respect, we elevate engagement, we get smarter ourselves, and we achieve better results. I have learnt that collaboration is not just a nice concept; it is a fundamental value to all we can achieve and must commit to in healthcare. When we are willing to be vulnerable and open, to learn from others, and share our successes, not for praise, but in the interest of others achieving similar success, we are truly leading with purpose. I have learnt when we honour the human being in front of us in every moment, we build bridges, relationships, stronger capacity to communicate, better listening, we express compassion, and show dignity and respect. I have learnt that in honouring lived experience, fostering collaboration and ensuring kindness, we can create a transformational space, a community of action and purpose and that with a commitment to lived experience, collaboration and kindness, we can truly transform healthcare.