Gaining Buy-in From Key Stakeholders with James Fly

In this episode of Legends to Leaders, Josiah Whitman sits down with perioperative leader James Fly to discuss one of the most important, and most underestimated, leadership skills in surgical services: building coalitions and gaining buy-in from key stakeholders. From physician relationships and executive alignment to frontline staff engagement, James shares practical strategies for moving initiatives forward without creating unnecessary resistance or friction across the perioperative department. In this episode, James shares: • Why successful perioperative leaders focus on alignment before operational change • How to gain support from surgeons, anesthesia teams, and executives • Practical ways to build trust across departments and leadership teams • Why credibility and relationships determine whether initiatives succeed or fail • Common mistakes leaders make when trying to drive change too quickly • Lessons learned from years of leading complex perioperative teams One of the biggest takeaways: great perioperative leaders don’t force change. They build alignment, create trust, and bring people with them. If you’re a Director of Surgical Services, OR Manager, perioperative leader, or aspiring executive, this episode is packed with leadership strategies you can apply immediately. Whitman Partners is the talent agency for Directors of Surgical Services. Learn more at www.whitmanpartners.com. Subscribe for more conversations with the legends shaping the future of perioperative leadership.