The Pause That Powers Great Leaders

Mindful Communication & Self-Leadership

This webinar features real-world examples of nurses and leaders who used a well-timed pause to de-escalate conflict, reset their intention, and avoid saying something they’d regret. You’ll hear how pausing isn’t a delay—it’s a decision. A moment to collect yourself, choose your response, and lead with clarity and compassion. 
CPD HOURS: 0.5
 Registration Year 2025/2026

Course Content

In the fast-paced world of healthcare, leadership often feels like a race—decisions made on the fly, quick reactions to crises, conversations stacked back-to-back. But in this webinar, we explore one of the simplest yet most powerful leadership tools you have: the pause.

Whether you're responding to a heated team conversation, navigating patient distress, or being challenged on a decision, the ability to pause—just for a breath—can be the difference between reacting and responding, between escalation and calm.

We unpack what micro-pauses are and why they matter, especially for nurse and midwife leaders who are often the emotional anchors in high-stress environments. You’ll learn how taking just a few seconds to pause can improve clarity, regulate emotion, and shift the entire tone of a conversation.

This webinar features real-world examples of nurses and leaders who used a well-timed pause to de-escalate conflict, reset their intention, and avoid saying something they’d regret. You’ll hear how pausing isn’t a delay—it’s a decision. A moment to collect yourself, choose your response, and lead with clarity and compassion.

In this session, we’ll cover:
    Why pausing is a powerful form of emotional intelligence
    The science of how micro-pauses support the nervous system under pressure
    How to practice presence in the moment—no mindfulness app required
    Easy, everyday ways to start pausing more and reacting less

Whether you’re leading a ward, managing a team, or simply navigating the everyday challenges of shift work, this conversation will help you slow down just enough to lead better.
Because sometimes, the most powerful thing a leader can do—is pause.

Why this Session may be Relevant to your Work

All nurses are leaders in clinical situations - knowing how to respond in difficult situations can mean the difference between creating good working relationships with team members or causing problems with team relationships that impact teamwork and patient outcomes.

Learning Outcomes

In this session, you will:
  • Gain an understanding of how strategic pausing functions as a core leadership behaviour under pressure in healthcare environments.
  • Review the impact of reactivity on communication, trust, and leadership credibility in high-stakes clinical settings.
  • Explore the role of micro-pauses in supporting emotional regulation, decision quality, and effective leadership conversations.
  • Recognise practical opportunities to apply intentional pausing to improve presence, influence, and professional authority in daily nursing practice.

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 Lisa Lucas

RN, BSN, MSN (Emergency Nursing - Trauma)

Lisa Lucas is a multi-award-winning Nursing leader with over 20 years of experience across specialties including Oncology, Surgical, Cardiology, Retrieval Services, and Emergency Nursing.