Integration Isn’t Passive—It’s the Hardest Work You’ll Do

Let’s set the record straight: rest is not the opposite of growth.

In fact, integration—the period after a big project, launch, or leadership push—is where the real work happens. It’s not passive. It’s not a break. It’s a recalibration. A refinement. A letting-your-systems-catch-up-with-your-vision kind of moment.

In this week’s episode of The Culture Focused Practice Podcast, I talk about how integration is often the most neglected phase of leadership. We’re good at vision. We’re pretty decent at execution. But pausing long enough to make sure what we built is actually working? That’s a whole other story.

Here’s a taste of what we explore:

Integration is Strategic

It’s not just “downtime.” It’s review time. Calibration time. Time to ask: Is this working? What needs to be tweaked? What’s the real fallout from this last change? You’re not waiting—you’re observing. That’s leadership.

You Can Operationalize It

If you’re running your practice on EOS (or even if you’re not), you can build integration into your rhythm. Quarterly rock reviews, VTO check-ins, clarity breaks—these are all ways to structure that synthesis instead of hoping it just “happens.”

Leaders Need to Feel Safe Slowing Down

Spoiler alert: this part is personal. Most of us are running scared, afraid that if we slow down, we’ll lose relevance or control. I’ve been there. Stillness used to make me itchy. But creating safety—for yourself and your team—to pause and integrate is a non-negotiable if you want long-term sustainability.

Anchor Practices Help

You don’t need to overhaul everything. You just need something consistent. Maybe it’s a weekly leadership reflection. Maybe it’s a monthly “what changed?” review. Maybe it’s a full-on hold month post-launch. Whatever you choose, the goal is to create space on purpose.

Here’s the kicker: no one will clap for you when you do this work. No one throws a party for a clarity break. But this is the stuff that holds your practice together when things get loud again.

If you’re building a group practice that values sustainability, culture, and real leadership—🌀 Come join us Inside the Living Practice.
It’s my membership for group practice owners who care deeply about how they lead.
👉 www.taravossenkemper.com/the-membership

You don’t need another sprint.
You need space to synthesize.

About the Author

Dr. Tara Vossenkemper is a gently-candid consultant who’s been in the trenches of group practice ownership since 2017. With a hearty blend of depth, irreverence, and a solid dash of humor (or so she hopes), Tara helps practice owners navigate the can-be-messy process of hiring, culture-building, vision generating, people-y issues, and all the other things that keep you up at night. When she’s not consulting, she’s probably wrangling her animals or homeschooling her kids—because why not add more chaos to the mix?

Ready to dive deeper into practice culture? Join the membership and get access to the tools and insights that make thriving, sustainable practices more than just a pipe dream.