The Leadership Mistake Even Top Doctors Make Under Pressure | Dr. Richard Winters

What do you do when you're the leader and there’s no clear answer?In this episode of All Physicians Lead, Dr. Leon Moores sits down with Dr. Richard Winters to break down what leadership actually looks like in high-pressure environments.From the ER to the boardroom, leadership is not about having the answer. It is about asking better questions, building shared reality, and making decisions when the path forward is unclear.Dr. Winters shares real stories from his journey, including:Going from a struggling student to Mayo Clinic physicianThe leadership mistakes even experienced leaders still makeWhy “fixing problems” fails at home and at workHow to lead teams through uncertainty and complexityThe difference between coaching, mentoring, and managingIf you lead a team, run a business, or want to become more effective under pressure, this conversation will change how you think about leadership.Subscribe for more conversations with leaders designing the future.⏱️ TIMESTAMPS0:00 – Intro: Leadership under pressure0:35 – Why leadership in healthcare is uniquely difficult1:25 – From D-minus student to Mayo Clinic physician2:58 – Choosing emergency medicine over surgery6:01 – How leadership roles actually begin8:36 – Learning leadership through failure10:37 – Why leadership mistakes are normal12:18 – The gap in leadership training for physicians14:19 – Frameworks that actually help leaders think16:17 – Command vs collaboration: finding balance17:45 – Why healthcare decisions are not top-down20:02 – Why leadership evolves at every stage21:56 – The “fixer” mindset and why it fails at home24:18 – Default leadership styles and their limits25:33 – How stress impacts leadership performance26:21 – Decision-making in complex environments28:31 – The problem with meetings29:10 – “Now what?” and stepping into leadership31:01 – Why best practices fail in changing environments33:11 – Leading through uncertainty and change35:58 – AI in healthcare and leadership implications38:54 – Building shared reality (critical leadership skill)42:30 – Blind spots and why leaders miss key signals43:54 – Common leadership mistakes44:24 – Should you get an MBA?46:08 – Mentor vs coach vs manager explained52:11 – When to use storytelling as a leader54:36 – Advice for new leaders57:44 – Asking better questions vs having answers58:23 – The danger of “us vs them” leadership59:00 – Final thoughts#Leadership