IP LifeLine: You're a Mover and a Shaker

IP LifeLine From Infection Control Today

Somewhere along the way, someone looked me in the eye and said,
“You’re a mover and a shaker.”

I don’t remember who said it.
I don’t remember where we were or what prompted the comment.
I remember the words.

They landed with the weight of truth. Not the heavy, burdensome kind—but the kind that gently nudges something asleep inside of you and says, “Wake up! This is who you are.”

At the time, I wasn’t particularly feeling like a mover. Or a shaker. I think I was just trying to keep the wheels turning—balancing work, kids, deadlines, laundry. There was nothing glamorous about it. But for whatever reason, that person saw something in me that I hadn’t fully claimed yet. And they named it.

Mover. Shaker.
The kind of person who doesn’t just live in the world—they move something in it.

Those words stayed with me. They still do. They became a quiet permission slip I still carry around, reminding me that I can create change, challenge systems, and build something better. Even when I don’t feel bold, even when I feel tired.

And the more I think about it, the more I realize that one sentence shaped something within me that has led me to succeed time and time again. All because someone once spoke life-giving words into my sleeping soul.

The Power of Spoken Words

There’s a kind of magic in the words we speak over others—not the flattery kind, but the kind that calls people into who they’re becoming.

We all remember words that changed us.
Maybe it was a teacher who said, “You’re a writer.”
Maybe a supervisor who told you, “People follow you, even when you don’t realize it.”
Maybe it was a friend who simply whispered, “You’re stronger than you know.”

Those words stick not because they’re fancy, but because they’re formative. They shape how we begin to see ourselves.

And the truth is, we all have that power. To speak into someone’s life. To point to a small seed in their soil and say, “Look. Something is growing here.”

How to Speak Into Someone’s Life

It doesn’t take a grand gesture to change someone’s trajectory. More often than not, it’s a simple, intentional sentence—spoken at the right time—that becomes a turning point. Whether you’re a leader, a colleague, a parent, or just a person passing through someone else’s day, you all have the power to change lives through speaking into those lives. The steps below aren’t a script. They’re an invitation—a way to approach everyday interactions with just a little more presence—and a lot more impact.

Look for what’s true and emerging in others.

Most of us walk around with gifts we haven’t named yet—strengths we’ve never noticed. But when someone else names what they see in us, it sows within us a seed of potential; the potential of becoming. Be the kind of person who notices what’s becoming.

Say it out loud.

We assume people already know. We think that they hear it all the time. However, the truth is that most of us are starving for encouragement. So, if you see it, speak it. Please don’t wait for someone else to catalyze their growth. Please don’t assume they already know what’s there.

Be specific and sincere.

Generic praise is nice. But true and targeted encouragement is powerful. Instead of “You’re doing great,” try:

“The way you stayed calm and asked that question in the meeting—it shifted the whole tone of the room.”

Release the outcome.

You might never know what your words did for someone. Say them anyway. Encouragement works like water on dry ground. You don’t see the roots grow—but they do.

What Does Any of This Have to Do With Infection Prevention?

You might be wondering to yourself, “What does any of this have to do with health care or infection prevention?” Well, in a word, Everything.

In our roles as infection preventionists, we often spend so much time correcting, redirecting, and reminding. “Please wear your PPE correctly.” “Don’t forget to sanitize between rooms.” “We need better hand hygiene compliance on 3 West.”

Necessary? Yes.
Powerful? Not always.

What if, alongside the endless corrections, we offered specific encouragement? What if we named the good in others?

“You have a remarkable way of commanding a room. People listen to you when you speak.”
“I admire your commitment to protecting our patients. Your actions are inspiring to others.”
“Your consistency is what keeps this place safe, and it leads others to do the same.”

When we speak the truth in that manner, people listen differently. They stand taller. They start to believe that they are part of something meaningful because theyare.

Who Will You Speak Truth Into Today?

I still don’t know who first called me a mover and a shaker. But I know I’ve never forgotten those words. When work is difficult and challenges arise, I quietly think to myself, “You are a mover and a shaker. You will move this mountain.”
That person and their words had a profound impact on my career and life. Now, I try to be that person for others because the world is loud with criticism and far too quiet when it comes to naming what’s good.

So today, someone out there needs your words. Can you find them? Can you name what you see within them that they might not yet see within themselves?

“You light up a room.”
“You make people feel safe.”

“You bring calm to a room.”
“You’re a mover and a shaker.”

Say the words. Plant the seed. Watch them grow.