EP 116: What Healthcare Executives Must Do to Create Cultures Where People Stay

In this episode of the Coffee Break Podcast, Dr. Renee Thompson sits down with Dr. Tera Gross, Chief Nursing Officer at Mayo Clinic in Florida, for a thoughtful and practical conversation about what it truly takes to lead well in today’s healthcare environment.

A seasoned nurse executive and national nursing leader, Tera shares how intentional leadership development, strong relationships, and a quality improvement mindset can shape culture, improve outcomes, and reduce disruptive behaviors across teams. From fostering psychological safety to equipping leaders with the skills to give and receive feedback, this episode is packed with real-world insights leaders can immediately apply.

This conversation is especially valuable for nurse leaders, executives, and anyone responsible for shaping culture in complex healthcare systems.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

Why leadership development must go beyond technical skills and focus on relationships, influence, and trust

How fostering a culture of feedback improves accountability and psychological safety

Practical strategies for addressing disruptive behavior with curiosity, clarity, and consistency

How quality improvement is a mindset, not just a project

Why interprofessional leadership alignment is essential to a healthy work culture

Lessons from Tera’s leadership journey and how reflection shapes better leaders

About Dr. Tera Gross

Tera L. Gross, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, CENP, FACHE, is the Chief Nursing Officer for Mayo Clinic in Florida. She has served in progressive leadership roles at Mayo Clinic for nearly 25 years in both Minnesota and Florida. Tera is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, Assistant Professor of Nursing at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, and a recipient of the Diamond Quality Fellow Award from the Mayo Quality Fellows Program. She currently serves as Region 4 Director on the American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL) Board of Directors and is passionate about empowering healthcare leaders to thrive through quality improvement, integrity, and intentional leadership.

Links & Resources

Connect with Dr. Tera Gross on LinkedIn

Email Tera at gross.tera@mayo.edu

Download your copy of our 33 Scripts to Address Disruptive Behavior When You Don’t Know What to Say

Check out Renee Thompson’s newly revised book and #1 Amazon Best Seller Enough! Eradicating Bullying & Incivility: Strategies for Front Line Leaders here!

Check out Renee Thompson’s book Do No Harm Applies to Nurses Too! Strategies to Protect and Bully-proof Yourself at Work here!

Learn more about the Eradicating Bullying & Incivility eLearning Program here!

Have a question for Renee?

Email us at wecare@healthyworkforceinstitute.com to have your leadership question featured in an upcoming Q&A episode!

Disclosure: The host may be compensated for linking to other sites or for sales of products we link to. As an Amazon Associate, Coffee Break earns from qualifying purchases.

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