Sterilization Station: A Sterile Processing Empowerment Podcast

Stop Shrinking, Start Shining: Conquering the Voice That Says You Don't Belong in Sterile Processing in 2025

• Bill Rishell

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Have you ever stepped into a leadership role in sterile processing and felt like a fraud waiting to be exposed? That nagging voice questioning whether you're qualified to lead isn't just your imagination – it's imposter syndrome, and it affects countless skilled professionals across healthcare.

This episode tackles the unique challenges facing new sterile processing leaders – from lead technicians suddenly managing former peers to managers carrying the weight of departmental responsibility. Rather than offering generic platitudes, we dive deep into role-specific strategies for building authentic confidence in your leadership position.

What sets this conversation apart is our focus on replacing self-doubt with what truly matters: authentic confidence, self-efficacy, and an empowered identity. These aren't just buzzwords – they're practical frameworks for recognizing your earned right to lead. Through specific examples and actionable advice, we explore how confidence shows up differently across various leadership roles, from the quiet strength of effective delegation to the clarity of purpose in staff education.

You'll discover how to transform your self-talk from undermining doubts to empowering affirmations. Learn why "I have earned this, I am growing, and I am enough" can revolutionize not just how you feel about yourself, but how you show up for your team every day. We break down exactly what confidence looks like in sterile processing leadership – not as flawless performance, but as being fully present without second-guessing your right to lead.

Whether you're struggling with leading former peers, feeling caught between staff and administration, or worried about making the wrong decisions, this episode offers tailored strategies to help you thrive. Because sterile processing leadership isn't about knowing everything – it's about trusting yourself to learn, lead, and listen with authentic confidence.

Ready to silence that inner critic? Subscribe now to continue your leadership development journey with the Sterilization Station.


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Speaker 1:

Welcome to the Sterilization Station Empowerment Podcast of Sterile Processing, the place where sterile processing professionals find strength, growth and purpose. In today's episode it's for everyone, and this is a part two to the series that we're going to do on overcoming imposter syndrome in sterile processing. So if you didn't get a chance to listen to episode one, we will definitely put that link in the bottom. Please make sure to tune into that episode. So today's episode is for anyone who's stepped into a new sterile processing leadership role, whether it's a lead tech, maybe it's a manager, supervisor, or it could even be an educator or any role that you're new to in sterile processing. And you might be thinking to yourself am I really cut out for this? Well, that's it, my friend. It is called imposter syndrome and it's talking and it's alive today, and we at the sterilization station we are shutting it down. We're talking about what it takes, what it looks like. We're talking about what it looks like to replace self-doubt with authentic confidence. Not fake it till you make it stuff, but the real deal, unshakable belief in your earned right to lead. That's right. You have the right to lead. You can be that leader that you want to be. So, whether you're a new lead, tech supervisor, educator or manager. This is your reminder that you do belong here. So remember, don't shrink to fit places you've outgrown. You were made to rise. Do not shrink to fit places you've outgrown. Remember you were made to rise.

Speaker 1:

So what is the opposite of imposter syndrome? In order for us to overcome imposter syndrome, we have to really know what is it that we're trying to arrive at, what is it that we're trying to become? In order to do that, sometimes to find out what you want to be is to find out what you're not, or to find out where you want to go is to find out where you haven't been, or to find out where you want to go is to find out where you haven't been. So this is how we're going to begin to overcome by first identifying what is imposter syndrome. So, imposter syndrome, some of the attributes are self-doubt or fear of being found out. You feel like an imposter is someone that's fake, right, they're not real, or they're impostering, they're acting like something that they're not and they have a condition or a syndrome. And so the opposite of imposter syndrome would be authentic confidence plus self-efficacy and empowered identity, and these are the things we want to touch on today to encourage you and empower you that you can overcome this imposter syndrome.

Speaker 1:

In sterile processing or wherever you might be, let's keep moving and growing in whatever you are. You can be whatever you want to be. But it all starts with how you view yourself, how you speak about yourself and how you think about yourself, and so imposter syndrome tells you you're not ready. Even when you've earned your seat right, you did the certifications, you went through the. When you've earned your seat right, you did the certifications, you went through the training, you've gone to the seminars, you participated in those team building activities or whatever it is. You are where you need to be. Don't doubt yourself. Don't even open that door in your mind to think that way.

Speaker 1:

Remember we're talking about authentic confidence, self-efficacy and empowered identity. Today it's called self-efficacy your belief in your power to take action, your belief in your power to solve problems and to learn on the go. As I always say here at the Sterilization Station, we grow as we go. It's called empowered identity. Right, that's the full acceptance that your experience, your insight and your voice matters. Your experience is what you've done, what you've been able to perform, what you've been exposed to. Your insight from that experience is knowledge and understanding and even wisdom, and how you can apply that. And your voice matters. Why? Because your voice is tied to your experience, and experience does speak. So this is not about being flawless, ladies and gentlemen. It's about being fully present in your role, without second guessing your right to lead. Right? So I'm here at the sterilization station. We want to empower you, right? So remember, tell yourself these words. I want you to speak these words in your mind out loud. I want you to repeat after me. Right, because you got to think, you got to feel you have to act.

Speaker 1:

As Michael E Parker would say, from you Are a CEO, great community. The link will be at the bottom of this. Please click the link to learn more about the benefits of you Are a CEO. And if you want to learn more, you can even reach out to me, and I don't mind explaining to you what you are a CEO is about, but I'm a strong advocate for that community and for the message and the movement that's behind it. I want you to say these words I have earned this. Say I am growing and say I am enough. These words should be in your thoughts. I have earned this opportunity. I'm growing through this opportunity and I am enough. This is going to help you. The way you view yourself, the way you think about yourself, the way you see yourself. As Michael Parker would say, we see what we look for. What are you looking for?

Speaker 1:

Make sure you're looking for the right thing and always remember that confidence shows up in your leadership style. If you don't have confidence, it's going to show up. If you have strong confidence, it's going to show up. So remember, confidence isn't loud, it's calm, consistent and real. Make sure that your confidence is calm. You know how to control when you're in an environment. You know when to speak, how to speak if you should speak.

Speaker 1:

Sometimes some situations don't even merit a response. In some situations, you know, without a shadow of a doubt, as a leader, as an educator, even as a technician, you're going to have to respond. Being consistent is so important. Right and being real. Be a person that is genuine and sincere. Confidence will say I don't know, but I'm going to find it out. Right, be hungry, as we always say in church, on our serving team, we always say find work right, I'm going to find out what's going on. That's a confident person. Is that they're going to find the answers to the problem, because answers create feedback and feedback can create process improvements.

Speaker 1:

And delegating, leading with clarity and lifting others up right, these are things that have a lot to do with confidence, right, you want to be confident in delegating, knowing that the things you're asking your team to do has been proven and that it's not some idea you heard on some podcast, even, or something you're listening to, but something that you've tried and has been proven through the test of time. Leading with clarity right, making sure your clarity is your who, where, when, where and why. Your who, when, where, what and why. And lifting others up. Confidence will always make sure others are lifted up.

Speaker 1:

So what does confidence actually look like in sterile, processing leadership? It's not always bold speeches or big gestures, right. Sometimes it's just the quiet strength to delegate, or it's to train with patience, to correct, with compassion. So it's not about knowing everything, but it's about trusting yourself to learn to lead and to listen. Remember, confidence isn't thinking you're better than others, right, it's not needing to compare at all.

Speaker 1:

These are some things to consider when we're talking about having confidence, and confidence has a lot to do with overcoming and destroying imposter syndrome, and that's what we want to do in this series. We want to take away the can't, the won't. I can't, I can't. We want to get rid of that. Can't shouldn't even be in your vocabulary. Unless you're talking about demonstrating the implementation of a standard right or a policy, you say I can't go against this.

Speaker 1:

When it comes to you doing something as a leader, you can do everything right, and always remember confidence has different strategies that you can do, you can use right. So think about a lead technician right, he's going to challenge his peers in making sure he's leading in the right way. He's leading former peers. Or the fear of judgment or do I deserve it? These are some things that might be challenges you might face when you're trying to overcome imposter syndrome. Some of the challenges you might face in trying to overcome this imposter syndrome is leading former peers right, you might feel like I grew up with this person in sterile processing, or I was a peer, or maybe I took that extra long break with this person before I went into leadership and this can affect you how you lead, because you still feel like your past is dictating your future. The fear of judgment right, you were once with the boys or the girls with the team, right? So? And you might say, do I deserve this? Right? That might be another challenge you might face as a lead tech, but these are the things that are going to build your confidence.

Speaker 1:

Focus on consistency, not perfection, right, we're all going to make mistakes, but be consistent. A pattern, a new habit takes what? 30 days, 35 days? But be consistent. Build trust in your department with fairness, not with fear. Right, be fair. And when you're fair straight across the board, it's almost like the whole situation right about. Like the lies, right, the white lies, whatever. Like, if you're fair straight across the board, you don't have to wonder about who you did this for and that for. But if you just have a righteous perspective and you're fair, you don't have to worry about that. And then don't avoid conflict. Lead through your conflict. Challenges are going to rise up. How you lead through that is how you're going to build that confidence in your team. Remember, you lead with integrity, you lift others with respect and you've earned this seat at the table. Remember you earned this seat. So, as a lead tech, your strength is your consistency. Your strength is your consistency. You're not just organizing trades, you are setting the tone. You are that example as that lead tech. You're not just organizing trades, you are setting the tone. You are that example as that lead tech. You're no longer just one of the team. You're the bridge between staff and leadership. So make sure you own it. Make sure that you are that bridge that's between the staff and the leadership.

Speaker 1:

As we're transitioning now into supervisor roles, some of the challenges you might see as a supervisor is feeling stuck in the middle. Right, the fear of making those tough calls, you know. So, being that person that's in the middle, sometimes you're going to feel like you know, you once were there and now you're a supervisor and you can offer suggestions, but management might not always take it and you're in the trenches. That supervisor is in the trenches with the staff, and then you might deal with the fear of making those tough calls. Right, maybe you made a decision, the manager was in a meeting and you couldn't reach them. Maybe there was a better decision you could have made. But always remember, wisdom is bought through the things we go through and you're gaining that experience.

Speaker 1:

So how are you going to build confidence as a supervisor? Trust your instincts and your policies right. Lean on your instincts. Lean on that gut feeling, lean on your understanding and there's so many resources you can reach out to and follow those hospital policies and always remember the standards are your friend and lean on those standards when needed. Use your voice in those meetings. That's another confidence tool that you have as a supervisor is use your voice in meetings to begin to express concerns, offer process improvements and go into these meetings prepared, knowing what the team is recommending or in which the pulse of your department do you know the pulse of your team Advocate with facts and heart. This is so important. That supervisor knows the culture right. He knows how things are done, whether it's what's the consistent pattern in the department, and that supervisor is a great person that's going to be able to bring those ideas to the decision makers, the C-suite, the people that are making those decisions in your department. And so just a little encouragement to those supervisors Remember you say you want to make sure you're saying this within yourself.

Speaker 1:

I lead with clarity, I speak with confidence. I am capable of hard decisions. I know it might sound silly, but say this out loud in your mind. I put your name in lead with clarity. I bill lead with clarity, I bill speak with confidence and I, bill, am capable of making these hard decisions. This is how you change the mindset to destroy and annihilate that imposter syndrome that tries to creep up in your leadership as a sterile processing professional. So supervisors are the stabilizers of the department. You're not here to be liked, you're here to be fair, you're here to be focused. And You're here to be focused and you're here to be consistent. When you lead with clarity, respect will follow. Remember, clarity is the who, what, where, when and why of sterile processing. Make sure you understand your why. I did an episode on passion and why, if you want to listen into it, as well as an episode on being empowered, and that's what we're here for. So we're moving now on to the educator.

Speaker 1:

Some of the challenges an educator might face is feeling unqualified to teach. That's a big one and a new role you might fear. I'm unqualified. I'm new. I don't really know what I'm doing. I know this is my dream job. I've seen this. This is why I'm doing these episodes. Do you know how many educators, supervisors I've seen on LinkedIn that take jobs? They don't have a coach. They go into their dream job and within weeks, not months I check back in with them and guess what they're struggling why? Because they didn't set themselves up for success and because they let imposter syndrome show up. It shows up in their confidence in themselves. Please, if you need help, please reach out. There's so many people like myself and so many resources in sterile processing that can help you. If you're looking for someone to help you, please reach out. I've got so many people in my network that I can encourage you to reach out to, and I'm willing to mentor you as well.

Speaker 1:

The fear of being wrong is something educators struggle with you. Fear of what if I'm teaching the wrong thing? What if something changed and I'm not teaching the right according to the standards? Or maybe there's a revision in the standard or an annex or an update in the standard. These are the things that are going to show up If you're an educator, feeling underqualified to teach. Fear of being wrong, fearing do I know everything? You don't have to know everything to be an educator. You're there to educate and educators need educators as well. These are the confidence tools that are needed to be successful as an educator and overcoming this imposter syndrome.

Speaker 1:

Lean into your recent experience. It's relatable. Whatever you've learned so far, you purchased it. You bought it. It's in your tool belt. Use it. Ask questions to spark learning. You know, sometimes in these in-services don't just jump into the content. Do an icebreaker Maybe you'll say we're covering the Zimmer total knee set. Does anyone here know what this is? Anyone know how these trays work? Allow that icebreaker to get your employees thinking and include them into the education, so it's not just them looking at you explaining, but they're actually being a part of the education. It'll make it very interactive.

Speaker 1:

We did a great session a few weeks ago with Vanessa Frank and she was so outstanding as we had a conversation around training in our mentor series on the acronym mentor and the T was for training. Please check it out. It was a great episode. I thought that was a very fun episode and I learned a lot. And Vanessa Frank is just she's excellent, a great resource. If you have any questions, she's always available as well.

Speaker 1:

I know she's going to love me for saying that, but reach out to her and then celebrate your progress. Right, you're not perfect. You're growing as you're going and as you're growing into your role. Celebrate progress, make some goals, set some goals and remember this is a journey. It's not going to happen in one day. As they always say, rome wasn't built in a day, right? So let's remember that. I want you if you're an educator and you're watching this, maybe you're struggling with some of these things you should turn now to verbally affirm by saying I teach with purpose, I lead by example. With purpose, I lead by example, my knowledge is valuable. I, bill, teach with purpose, I, bill lead by example and I, bill, am knowledgeable and my knowledge is valued. So, educators, shape the future of sterile processing and you don't have to know everything to teach. You just have to care deeply and speak clearly.

Speaker 1:

You are the spark on that roll in a fire. There's three. There's three the triangular of fire, right, there's what's being burnt, there's the heating source and then there is oxygen. There's the three pieces of the fire, right, the, the flame of fire. What is going to put out that flame is if the oxygen is cut off, if, if you remove the sources being burnt or if you take away the heating source. So you know what I'm saying. Like the fire that's in you, don't let nothing take away that fire. You are where you're supposed to be. You're in the position that you're supposed to be. Own it. Have confidence, you can do this. I can teach with purpose, I can lead by example, I can express the knowledge that I have and it's valuable.

Speaker 1:

Moving on to the manager role, in sterile processing, some challenges that they're going to face is a feeling of isolation. They're by themselves, they're in these meetings, they're maybe away from the department a lot in an office and not in the work Pressure to fix everything, feeling like everything's resting on your shoulders and you have to solve all the problems. You have to be the one that's going to create all of the changes and managing up. Managing up to your directors, holding them accountable, and managing down to those supervisors and educators and those who are underneath you. And so confidence the way confidence is going to show up in your toolkit of confidence is set healthy boundaries. Make sure that you are not always isolated, right?

Speaker 1:

There's nothing better than a manager who's in the department occasionally, not to judge the employees, not to give them pop quizzes, but to spend time with them, picking a case card right, going to decon and just being present, maybe even gowning up and being with the technician right, just showing them. I support you. You're not there to judge, you're not there to say that's wrong. You're there to be supportive, right? Maybe it's being an instrument and being next to an employee and just sitting down next to them asking them how they're doing, doing those one-on-ones. It's important, right? Scheduling those one-on-ones is important, right? Scheduling those one-on-ones Building people, not just processes. A good manager is not only going to manage the work but they're going to create growth plans, right? Meeting with the employees in their one-on-ones and asking them where do you see yourself one, three, five years? How can I help you get there? Right, taking, be involved in their development. Right, giving them projects that are going to help them to grow and develop in their sterile processing career. You know, when I mentor students, it's never about just sterile processing. It's about coaching through life. It's about encouraging and giving them things outside of the world of sterile processing.

Speaker 1:

Everyone that's in a leadership role has been through things as a child has been through things through their high school, college or didn't go to college, trade school or whatever. You have experiences. Share those experiences. There's gold behind those scrubs. There's experiences. Don't hold those things. Give them to the people around you. You're a tree. Let them eat off your fruit, the fruit of experiences, the fruit of things you've gone through, the fruit of situations, maybe decisions. Maybe there's something in your story, right, your origin story, why you went into leadership that might empower Empower that person behind you, encourage them, inspire them and let data and compassion guide decisions.

Speaker 1:

As a manager, everything we do has to be proven by data. It's the truth, right? Maybe we need more trays, right, maybe we need more. How do I prove more trays? I have to track turnovers, right? I have to track. How many times am I turning over this flexible scope to justify getting more scopes, right? So data is so important as managers, to validate purchases and suggestive ideas into creating processes, improvements and getting more assets. Right, and compassion must guide your decisions.

Speaker 1:

You have to know the pulse of your department. What is the pulse of your department? You have to know the pulse. Pulse is so important and remember, as a manager, I, bill or I, whatever your name is lead with strategy and strength. Your team needs your ideas. They need your strategy.

Speaker 1:

Cast that vision. What is your vision? What is your department mission statement? Do you have a mission statement? What is your vision? Does your team even know what your vision is? Cast vision like a seed, so they can grow into where you want them to. They might not be able to grow because you're not casting the seed of vision. And if you want them to grow, you have to give them that clarity right who, where, what and why.

Speaker 1:

And strength right. Lead with strength, be there to support them. Right Strength is the physical ability to exert and to continue to do something. So have that strength. Remember you build with purpose and process. You build people and processes. You build people, you build processes and you're worthy of this role. Remember that I lead with strategy and strength. I build people and processes and I am worthy of this role.

Speaker 1:

If you're a manager, let this sink into you. Don't say I can't lead with strength, I can't lead with strategy, I can't do this role. You can do this role. They chose you because you have the experience, you have the exposure, you have the energy, you have what's ever needed, the temperament, whatever's needed. You have it.

Speaker 1:

So, managers, you carry the weight of an entire department, but you're not alone. You have a team of technicians, supervisors, leads, educators, liaisons. Build up your people so that they can build you up. When you look good in front of management, make sure your people look good and make sure, as a manager, that you delegate, that you don't have to carry all that weight Evenly distribute, that there are team members who want to grow. Let them grow. Give them some responsibility. Let them manage a project. Give them the ownership, trust them. Let them show you that they know what they're doing. Create space for others to grow right. You have to make space. Make your department a large room that it grow right. You have to make space. Make your department a large room that it's a place where people can grow, not just physically, not just through projects or through roles, but let them grow in there.

Speaker 1:

Their ideas matter. If they share their ideas, it's when an idea is shared, try it out. That's giving them space to grow. Now they know I do matter, my thoughts do matter. Having those sessions where people can share ideas maybe a box right Process improvements or what we should do, box, whatever you want to call it and then you don't have to fix it all, just guide it forward.

Speaker 1:

Remember these things whether you're a leader, whether you're a manager, whether you're a supervisor, whether you're an educator, whether you're a lead tech, whether you're that new sterile processor that just came to the department, remember that you do matter and that do not let the word can't run through your mind. You can do anything. You can be the successful sterile processing technician, nurse, doctor, whatever you are that you want to be. Just remember that it all starts with where you're thinking and where your thinking will affect what you do. So imposter syndrome might whisper doubt, but you, you get the final word. So, whether you're new or seasoned, know this you are chosen for this role because someone believed in you, and now it's time for you to believe in you too. Believe in you, believe in you. Don't let those people down, those preceptors, don't let those texts down that maybe they took your resume and brought it to the manager and now you're there. Fight for those who created opportunities for you. But you have to believe in yourself, and it starts by how you think about yourself, because how you think about yourself will come out of your mouth, and what comes out of your mouth you will do. So. Make sure we let go of the lie that you don't belong, because you do. You've done the work, you've put in the time, you have what it takes. Now walk into that department with your shoulders back, your heart open and your mind grounded. Say I'm not here by accident. I'm here by ability, by calling and by choice. Until next time, remember sterile doesn't mean silent. Keep rising and keep leading.

Speaker 1:

This is Bill Rochelle from the Sterilization Station, that empowerment podcast for sterile processing. Please like, comment and subscribe to this episode, and always remember you can do anything that you want to do. I want to give a shout out to a few people who have joined into the subscription through my podcast hosting site and are donating to the podcast, which is allowing us to continue forward, and I really want to give a big shout out to Cliff Russell from Saris IMS. Thank you, cliff, for your support, as well as Vanessa Frank, who has been a great supporter since this podcast started and has been such an encouragement, as well as Maricel Nguyen from MedTech College, a sterile processing program. They're a great program and I really, really appreciate them, and so I also want to make sure that I do acknowledge my sponsors. One of my sponsors is going to be so.

Speaker 1:

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Speaker 1:

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Speaker 1:

You can visit medtechcollegehaywardcom, that's M-E-D-T-E-K-C-O-L-L-E-G-E-H-A-W-H-A-Y-W-A-R-Dcom, or you can call 510-432-0366. And so, once again, I just want to thank you for tuning in to the Sterilization Station. I hope today you felt empowered, that you've been encouraged and that you're leaving with something to think about and that imposter syndrome will not be a part of you, and that you're going to overcome that by thinking about those thoughts of how valuable you are and that you are where you're supposed to be Make it a great day. Look forward to talking to you soon. You take care.