Abstract
Healthcare organizations are facing mounting pressures, including workforce shortages, increasing patient acuity, and growing operational demands. These pressures have made “work–life balance” an often unattainable goal. This session reframes the conversation, shifting the focus from chasing balance to intentionally creating harmony by design. Drawing on the book Harmony by Design and the principles of Diagnostic Design Thinking, the authors co-created a practical, human-centered leadership approach to strengthen workplace culture. This approach helps leaders diagnose root causes of cultural and operational challenges, co-design meaningful solutions with frontline teams, and align leadership intent with everyday practice.
Rather than relying on top-down strategies, harmony by design leverages collaborative structures that promote psychological safety, team engagement, and shared accountability. The session will guide participants through key concepts, structured methods, and actionable strategies to create thriving workplaces where staff feel valued and patient care is elevated. Participants will gain tools to move beyond abstract culture goals toward practical, measurable, and sustainable transformation that supports workforce well-being and patient outcomes.
Notes
Presenter notes available in attached slide deck.
References:
Hatchett, R. (2023). Using collective leadership to support nurses and enhance patient outcomes. Nursing Standard. https://doi.org/10.7748/ns.2023.e12144
Hult, M., Terkamo-Moisio, A., Kaakinen, P., Kinnunen, M., Kvist, T., & Heponiemi, T. (2023). Relationships between nursing leadership and organizational, staff, and patient outcomes: A systematic review of reviews. Nursing Open, 10(9), 5920–5936. https://doi.org/10.1002/nop2.1931
Lindsay, S. L., & Mathieson, K. M. (2022). Authentic leadership: Does it relate to job satisfaction and engagement among nurses? Nursing Management, 53(6), 24–30. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.NUMA.0000833068.41846.8e
Weinstein, S. M., Vannucci, M. J., & Boston-Leary, K. (2025). Harmony by design: Navigating work and life in healthcare. Sigma Theta Tau International.
Sigma Membership
Pi at-Large
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Other
Research Approach
Other
Keywords:
Workforce, Stress/Coping, Work Environment, Psychological Stress, Stress Management, Coping, Work-Life Balance, Well-Being, Harmony
Recommended Citation
Weinstein, Sharon M.; Vannucci, Marla; Boston-Leary, Katie; and Readinger, Dina, "Thriving Together: Harmony as a Catalyst for Culture and Care" (2026). Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE). 47.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/chwe/2026/presentations_2026/47
Conference Name
Creating Healthy Work Environments
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Washington, DC, USA
Conference Year
2026
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Date of Issue
2026-04-28
Thriving Together: Harmony as a Catalyst for Culture and Care
Washington, DC, USA
Healthcare organizations are facing mounting pressures, including workforce shortages, increasing patient acuity, and growing operational demands. These pressures have made “work–life balance” an often unattainable goal. This session reframes the conversation, shifting the focus from chasing balance to intentionally creating harmony by design. Drawing on the book Harmony by Design and the principles of Diagnostic Design Thinking, the authors co-created a practical, human-centered leadership approach to strengthen workplace culture. This approach helps leaders diagnose root causes of cultural and operational challenges, co-design meaningful solutions with frontline teams, and align leadership intent with everyday practice.
Rather than relying on top-down strategies, harmony by design leverages collaborative structures that promote psychological safety, team engagement, and shared accountability. The session will guide participants through key concepts, structured methods, and actionable strategies to create thriving workplaces where staff feel valued and patient care is elevated. Participants will gain tools to move beyond abstract culture goals toward practical, measurable, and sustainable transformation that supports workforce well-being and patient outcomes.
Description
Healthcare leaders are reimagining how to build thriving workplaces. This session introduces Harmony by Design and Diagnostic Design Thinking as tools to move beyond work–life balance and create cultures where people and care flourish. Participants will explore co-created solutions, stronger engagement, and leadership alignment. Discover how harmony can be a powerful catalyst for culture, connection, and better patient outcomes.