In a recent Becker’s Healthcare podcast, Mary Jo Williamson, chief administrative officer of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, shared lessons on helping teams navigate change. During the conversation, Williamson reflected on how approaches to change management have evolved throughout her more than three decades of healthcare leadership. She noted that healthcare organizations today face a pace of change unlike any seen before, requiring leaders to balance agility with thoughtful support for employees.

One of the primary takeaways was how important it is to remain grounded in organizational mission and strategy.

“If a new opportunity doesn’t clearly support our long-term direction, we consider it a distraction,” Williamson shared during the podcast. “When initiatives do align, it becomes much easier to prepare staff because the changes reinforce what our teams already understand. It feels to them more like an opportunity versus a disruption.”

Another central theme of the discussion was the importance of building trust during periods of uncertainty. Williamson emphasized that effective leaders do more than listen to employee concerns. They communicate transparently, connect decisions to organizational purpose, and create an environment where staff members feel valued and supported. These actions help teams maintain confidence even when priorities shift or transformation efforts accelerate.

The conversation also explored how leaders can move beyond preparing employees for change and instead empower them to shape it. She stressed the importance of understanding feedback from teams and translating that into some of the opportunities you see as a leader.

“The best solutions almost always come from the people closest to the work,” said Williamson.

Listen to the full podcast.