Live Medical Leadership and Management Course for Doctors

The two days combine facilitated teaching with discussion, exercises, reflection and practical application. The different parts of the course are deliberately connected: understanding the environment in which you work influences how you lead; how you understand yourself affects how you communicate; and communication affects your ability to influence people, lead teams and bring about change.

NHS Structures and Challenges

Effective leadership in the NHS requires an understanding of the system in which you are working. We look at how NHS organisations and services are structured, how responsibilities are distributed and how different parts of the system interact. We also consider the pressures facing NHS services and what these mean for leaders making decisions, setting priorities and trying to improve care.

• Understand how the NHS is structured and organised
• Explore how different parts of the NHS work together
• Understand roles, responsibilities and accountability within NHS organisations
• Consider workforce pressures and increasing demand
• Explore financial constraints and competing priorities
• Consider how to maintain quality and patient safety in pressured services
• Understand how NHS structures affect leadership and decision-making
• Lead within complex systems and across organisational boundaries

Leadership Foundations and Personal Leadership Style

There is no single leadership style that works in every situation. We explore the relationship between leadership and management, different approaches to leadership and how your own preferences affect the way you lead. You will consider when you may need to adapt your approach according to the people, circumstances and challenges in front of you.

• Understand the difference between leadership and management
• Explore different leadership styles and approaches
• Identify your own leadership style
• Recognise your strengths and limitations as a leader
• Adapt your approach to different people and situations
• Choose appropriate leadership approaches for different circumstances
• Develop leadership confidence and credibility

Emotional Intelligence, Communication and Influence

Leadership depends heavily on how well you understand yourself and other people. This part of the course explores the role of emotional intelligence in workplace relationships and how greater self-awareness can improve the way you communicate, respond to difficult situations and influence others, particularly when you cannot rely on formal authority.

• Understand emotional intelligence and its role in leadership
• Develop greater self-awareness and emotional resilience
• Recognise emotional triggers and behaviours
• Build stronger workplace relationships
• Communicate with greater clarity and impact
• Influence people when you do not have direct authority
• Manage challenging conversations professionally
• Understand other people's perspectives and priorities

Leading Teams and Managing Performance

Leading a team involves more than allocating work. You need to understand how people work together, what motivates them and what may prevent a team from performing effectively. We look at how to create a productive team environment while balancing support for individuals with appropriate expectations, challenge and accountability.

• Understand team dynamics and behaviour
• Explore Belbin Team Roles and effective team working
• Build and motivate effective teams
• Lead multidisciplinary teams
• Support colleagues and develop performance
• Recognise and address underperformance
• Delegate effectively while maintaining accountability
• Create positive and productive team cultures

Coaching and Mentoring

Good leaders do not need to provide the solution to every problem. Coaching and mentoring can help colleagues develop their own judgement, confidence and ability to solve problems. We explore practical techniques that can be used not only in formal coaching relationships, but also in supervision, team leadership and everyday conversations.

• Understand the differences between coaching and mentoring
• Develop practical coaching and mentoring skills
• Use the GROW coaching model
• Use effective listening and questioning techniques
• Support individual development
• Help others identify options and develop their own solutions

Leading and Managing Change

Change in healthcare depends as much on people as it does on the quality of the original idea. We look at why people may respond differently to change, how to understand legitimate concerns and resistance, and how leaders can engage the people whose support will be needed to turn an idea into sustained improvement.

• Lead and manage change effectively
• Understand different responses and resistance to change
• Communicate the need for change
• Identify and engage stakeholders
• Influence others and build support
• Use action learning and practical problem-solving approaches
• Maintain momentum through implementation
• Create a personal leadership action plan

Throughout the course, you will be encouraged to relate the material to situations from your own professional life so that you leave with practical actions you can use when you return to work.