Leadership Through Changing Tides with Dr. Carolyn Swinton
August 27, 2025Kyley Del Bosque
At our 2025 Qualivis Roundtable, Dr. Carolyn Swinton offered a powerful and practical blueprint for values-based leadership in healthcare. With decades of frontline and executive experience — including serving as Chief Nurse Executive for South Carolina’s largest health system — Dr. Swinton understands firsthand what it takes to lead with clarity and compassion, especially in high-pressure environments.
She opened her talk with a story from one of her previous roles, when she served as a CNO:
“A newly onboarded nurse made a serious medication error while experiencing a high-stress situation. During the administration process, a family member was aggressively yelling at her, which contributed to the nurse inadvertently administering the incorrect dosage. Fortunately, the patient was not harmed, though the incident did lead to a formal complaint.”
Dr. Carolyn Swinton, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, FACHE, NCC, ACC
Dr. Swinton used this story not to dwell on failure, but to underscore the need for purpose-driven leadership in the midst of chaos. Her message centered on building cultures of trust, aligning actions with purpose and empowering others to lead with integrity — especially in moments of uncertainty or change.
1. Start with Vision, Not Just Tasks
Dr. Swinton opened by emphasizing the power of purpose in leadership. When teams understand the greater mission behind their work, they’re more engaged, collaborative and committed. Leadership isn’t just about setting goals—it’s about inspiring belief in what’s possible and aligning others around that vision.
2. Ground Leadership in Values
Organizational culture is a direct reflection of what leaders value. Dr. Swinton challenged attendees to name their core values and examine whether those values consistently show up in both personal and professional behavior. Values like integrity, empathy and accountability must move from aspiration to action to shape a healthy, high-trust environment.
3. Align Values with Behavior
Effective leadership isn’t situational. It requires consistently aligning decisions and actions with clearly defined values. Dr. Swinton offered tangible examples of how values manifest in leadership behaviors:
Transparency: Open, honest communication that includes both good and difficult news.
Clarity: Explaining the “why” behind decisions to build understanding and alignment.
Accountability: Owning outcomes and modeling empathy when addressing mistakes.
4. Create Conditions for Trust and Belonging
Leaders must be visible and engaged. From hallway conversations to rounding to listening sessions, presence matters. When team members feel seen, heard and valued, they become more committed to the mission and each other. Leadership is about showing up — especially when things are hard.
5. Empower Others to Lead
Everyone on the team should be developed as a leader. Dr. Swinton encouraged attendees to provide tools and space to grow and permission to fail. Leadership is learned by doing — and trust is built when leaders offer support without judgment.
6. Make Decisions with Legacy in Mind
Drawing on the principle of seven generations thinking—which urges communities to weigh the consequences of today’s actions on future generations — Dr. Swinton challenged leaders to reflect on the enduring effects of their decisions.
“Legacy is not about what we leave for people,” she noted. “It’s what we leave in people. “When we, as leaders, think about integrity, compassion, empathy—those things are timeless. So, what will you leave in people? Hope, confidence, and the affirmation that they’re good enough. These are the things that will last beyond your time.”
7. Show Courage and Speak the Unspoken
Courageous leadership means addressing conflict, offering honest perspectives and standing firm in your values — especially when it’s uncomfortable. When leaders lead with integrity and clarity, trust deepens and teams become more unified and resilient.
Dr. Swinton quoted Abraham Lincoln, who famously said, “I don’t like that man, I must get to know him better.” This underscored her message that leaders should run toward conflict and discomfort with curiosity and openness, not avoidance.
Dr. Swinton’s session was a powerful affirmation that leadership is not a role — it’s a responsibility. At Qualivis, we’re proud to support healthcare leaders who are committed to building cultures of trust, compassion and performance. Our mission-aligned approach, consultative support and LotusOne platform help turn these values into strategy — and strategy into impact.