Gretchen Rickards's Linkedin Analytics

𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗹𝗲 𝗮 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝘄𝗼. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀? We often rely on our usual strengths and coping mechanisms to navigate challenges. But when the wild cards keep stacking up, even the most reliable strategies stop working. For me, a series of wild cards led to a major turning point in my career: 🔹 A global pandemic 🔹 A parent's illness 🔹 A third pandemic surge 🔹 The loss of a parent 🔹 Parental caregiving responsibilities At the same time, I was a physician and healthcare leader, making high-stakes decisions during COVID while also raising two young kids who needed me just as much as everyone else did. My default response? Put my head down. Push through. Keep moving. Until I couldn’t. Exhaustion took over. The strategies that had always worked for me were no longer enough. What finally made the difference? Asking for help. It took me far too long to learn that lesson. But I know now: 𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗶𝘀𝗻'𝘁 𝗮 𝘄𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀. 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴-𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲. If you’re juggling wild cards, please know this: You don’t have to do it alone. Asking for help might be the lifeline that changes everything. #leadershipcoaching #sustainableleadership #burnoutprevention #askforhelp PS – These cards are from the game 𝘍𝘢𝘪𝘳 𝘗𝘭𝘢𝘺 by Eve Rodsky, a powerful tool for redistributing the mental load and invisible work at home. Asking for help isn't just about work; it's essential in all areas of our lives.

𝗬𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗯𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲. You want to contribute. You know your insights matter. But that voice in your head keeps whispering, 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘐 𝘴𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨? 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦? That’s 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗲 in action. Imposter Syndrome is the persistent belief that you’re not as capable as others perceive you to be, despite evidence to the contrary. It is nearly universal among high-achievers, especially during times of transition, because stepping outside your comfort zone and trying new things can amplify self-doubt. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗼? A few strategies to consider: ✔ 𝗔𝗰𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗶𝘁. Imposter Syndrome thrives in silence. Naming it helps diminish its power. ✔ 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲. Self-doubt often accompanies growth. Feeling uncomfortable may simply mean you’re learning and growing. ✔ 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝘀. Keep a record of successes, both big and small, to remind yourself of your capabilities. Imposter Syndrome will show up when you step outside of your comfort zone, but it doesn’t have to define you. With time and practice, confidence grows, and that inner voice loses its grip. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗽𝘂𝘀𝗵 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳-𝗱𝗼𝘂𝗯𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗲𝘄? #leadership #impostersyndrome #confidence #transitions #highachievers

𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘀, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀. That often means stepping into situations that feel unfamiliar, uncertain, or downright uncomfortable. Because all real growth happens outside the comfort zone. If you get palpitations along the way, you’re probably doing it right. You’ve got this. (And yes, I’m reminding myself, too. Here’s to leaning into discomfort today.) 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆? #youcandohardthings #growthmindset #embracediscomfort #leadershipcoach #transitionscoach

𝗔 𝗺𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 — 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗴𝘂𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹-𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄. Ted Lasso is returning! Who’s excited for season 4? (Feel free to share your favorite quotes, lessons, or scenes from the show below!) #leadership #tedlasso #positiveleadership #believe

𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗜 𝗰𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗴𝗴𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘄. These are high-achieving professionals — individuals who usually run their days with precision. But lately, time management and task prioritization have become a common theme in nearly every session. Why? My hunch: The ongoing uncertainty in the world is making it harder to focus. When things feel unpredictable, even small decisions can feel heavy. The mental load builds, and everything starts to feel urgent. One tool I often share is the 𝗕𝗶𝗴 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 method: At the start (or end) of your day, identify the 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 most important things you need to accomplish. Not ten.  Not five.  𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲. This simple shift can: ✔️ Reduce decision fatigue ✔️ Help distinguish urgency from importance ✔️ Create a sense of focus and momentum I’ve used this practice for years. Personally, I prefer to set my Big Three in the morning, but some of my clients do it at the end of the day to close out their work and set intentions for the next day. When things feel out of control, narrowing your focus can be a powerful way to take back your time and protect your energy. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁? #leadershipcoaching #timemanagement #focus #mentalload #sustainableleadership

𝗙𝗲𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗳𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀. 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗸. 👇 One of the earliest lessons I learned in leadership: Backtracking on decisions and messaging undermines trust and credibility. 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿? Because it erodes confidence — not only in the decision but in you as a leader. When leaders backtrack, teams begin to second-guess the leader’s judgment and stability. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽? 🔹 𝗥𝘂𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 without fully understanding the context or impact 🔹 𝗣𝗼𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 — missing key perspectives before moving forward 🔹 𝗨𝗻𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 that leaves room for misinterpretation 🔹 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 without considering long-term consequences 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗱 𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀? ✅ 𝗣𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲: Take the time needed for thoughtful, informed choices. ✅ 𝗚𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝗽𝘂𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗸𝗲𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀: Listen to diverse perspectives and potential concerns. ✅ 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲: Be transparent about the “why” behind your decision. ✅ 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝗱𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲: If a shift is necessary, position it as a refinement, not a reversal. 𝗕𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗼𝗺 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲: Thoughtful decisions, clear communication, and stakeholder alignment reduce the need for retractions and reinforce your credibility as a leader. Have you ever experienced a leader walk back a decision? How did it impact trust and morale? #leadership #decisionmaking #leadershipdevelopment #leadershipcoaching

𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲𝘀. 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗲’𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝘁. I recently realized I was part of a movement: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝘂𝗽. During the pandemic, women across industries exited leadership roles at unprecedented rates. And it’s still happening. 𝗪𝗵𝘆? The Great Breakup began in the wake of COVID-19, when many women in leadership faced impossible choices. They shouldered disproportionate responsibilities at work and home, navigated organizational politics and burnout, and questioned whether the path to advancement was worth the cost. Many walked away. I was one of them. Now, in 2025, a new challenge has emerged. With DEI programs being dismantled under the banner of 'merit-based' advancement, we risk erasing years of progress toward gender equity. But let’s be clear: organizations don’t succeed by sidelining diversity. They thrive when diverse voices are at the table — shaping decisions, driving innovation, and strengthening workplace culture. If organizations want to attract and retain top talent, they need to foster environments where 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲. That means prioritizing inclusive leadership, mentorship, and policies and programs that support and elevate women in leadership. What is your organization doing to ensure leadership remains diverse and sustainable? #WomenInLeadership #TheGreatBreakUp #SustainableLeadership #InclusiveLeadership #LeadershipTransitions 𝘗𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘵: This image features a shirt sold by Teenavi. I have no affiliation with the company — I just appreciated the photo and liked how it aligned with the post.

“𝗜 𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝗮 𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝘆!” That’s how my client kicked off our most recent coaching session, and we took a moment to celebrate. At the end of our last session, she left with a plan to reflect on where clearer boundaries might be helpful in her life and work. In just a few short weeks, she didn’t just reflect — she acted. She communicated a clear boundary with her team around a long-standing pain point: protecting time on her schedule. The impact? ✅ More time and energy for what matters most ✅ A renewed sense of agency ✅ Finding real joy in her work again With just a few coaching sessions, she’s already creating the life and career she wants, one intentional decision at a time. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁? P.S. If you’re a woman physician who’s ready to set boundaries and lead on your own terms, something special is coming soon. Stay tuned. #LeadershipDevelopment #LeadershipCoaching #SustainableLeadership #WorkLifeBalance #Boundaries

Leadership doesn’t just happen at work — it also happens in the communities we serve. Living in Kennett Square, PA, also known as the Mushroom Capital of the World, has deepened my appreciation for the power of community. And in this chapter of my life and career, connection matters more than ever. I’m honored to serve on the board of Kennett Collaborative, a nonprofit dedicated to bringing people together and helping every member of our diverse community thrive. Today is my second official (virtual) board meeting, and I couldn’t be more excited to contribute. Leadership comes in many forms, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to give back and use my skills in new ways to support my local community. #leadership #kennettsquare #mushroomcapital #nonprofitleadership #newchapters

𝗦𝗸𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴? 𝗪𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗳 𝗶𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀? I just wrapped up a 6-session coaching engagement with a woman physician. Over the course of a few months, she: ✅ 𝗚𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 on what she wants in the next chapter of her career ✅ 𝗡𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝗴𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 with confidence ✅ 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳, landing a role that aligns with her vision and setting clear boundaries for long-term success ✅ 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸-𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 ✅ 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗯𝗶𝘁𝘀, including a consistent exercise routine This is what it looks like to lead your way — to define success on your terms and build a career that supports the life you want. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝟲 𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗱𝗼 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂? #WomenInMedicine #PhysicianLeadership #SustainableLeadership #WorkLifeBalance #CareerTransitions P.S. If this speaks to you, stay tuned. My colleague Diane W. Shannon, MD, MPH and I are creating a retreat designed specifically for women physicians who are ready to lead with clarity, purpose, and sustainability. More details coming soon!

A close family member was transitioned to hospice care this week. I’m grateful to have spent several days at her bedside during what will be the last days of her life. It has been a humbling reminder of what truly matters. There’s a popular coaching exercise called the 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝗘𝘅𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗲 that invites you to imagine your own funeral and reflect: 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘺 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶? 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶? 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘧𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘥? It’s a powerful way to clarify your deepest values and aspirations — and to ensure you’re living in alignment with them. It also encourages thinking beyond titles and accomplishments to focus on the qualities you want to embody. Everyone’s definition of a meaningful life is different. But whatever it is for you, time is finite. This week reminded me to spend that time being the person I want to be and focusing on who and what matters most. 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱? #purpose #values #legacy #selfleadership #coaching