Nursing the System

42: How to Challenge the System Without Getting Burned


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🎧 Episode Overview:

There’s a myth in healthcare that speaking up will get you shut down. And while it’s true that how your voice is received depends on power, politics, and identity...what I’ve seen again and again is this: You don’t get burned for speaking up. You get burned for speaking up without understanding your environment.


In this episode, I’m walking you through how to assess your position in your organization, what most workplaces actually value, and how to speak up in a way that aligns with your current level of social power and expertise. If you want to make change without constantly getting pushback, this one’s for you.


🔑 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
  • Why your voice isn’t always received the same way—and how to shift your strategy without silencing yourself
  • The difference between what you say and how and when you say it
  • How to assess your social power and expertise in any workplace
  • Why the smartest changemakers know when to wait and when to push
  • A practical framework for deciding how to speak up based on your current position


🧠 Key Ideas to Take With You:
  • Speaking up isn’t about confidence—it’s about strategy.
  • You don’t have to be the loudest voice in the room to make an impact.
  • Your social power and expertise determine how your ideas are received—learn to work with that, not against it.
  • Systems don’t always reject ideas—they reject ideas delivered at the wrong time, in the wrong way.


🎧 How to Get the Most Out of This Episode:

Think of a time when you tried to speak up and it didn’t land the way you wanted. As you listen, reflect on how much social power and expertise you had in that moment—and whether your approach aligned with your position. This episode can help you self-correct without self-blame.


🛠️ Practical Actions You Can Take:
  • Use the “social power + expertise” matrix to assess your current position at work
  • Reflect: Are you approaching change from a one-size-fits-all strategy, or tailoring your approach based on your context?
  • Take the Map Your Impact mini-course to identify your position and build a strategic plan
  • Try the end-of-episode journaling prompt: Think of a time you spoke up and it didn’t land. What was off?


📣 Special Announcements:

✨ The doors to Change Maker Essentials are now closed for this cohort—but Map Your Impact is always open.

If you’re looking for a bite-sized but powerful resource that helps you lead smarter and advocate more effectively, Map Your Impact is the next best step.


Use code MYI10OFF at checkout to save $10.


📲 Call to Action:
  • DM me on Instagram @nursing.the.system if you want help figuring out your social power + expertise score
  • Share this episode with a colleague who’s feeling discouraged or unsure how to speak up
  • Reflect on what your current position allows—and how to build toward the position you want
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Nursing the SystemBy Claire Phillips, DNP RN