methodology

Leaders, Learning and Change - the methodology

There are many theories, books and management programmes about the definition of good leadership. It is easy to define good leadership and also to show good leaders to others. It is difficult to become and stay a good leader. It is difficult to be yourself, especially if you are a leader.

"The Leaders in Health Programme provided me with the opportunity to reflect on my leadership style and to gain an objective insight from my peers. Through the experience of another healthcare system in contributing to the resolution of a genuine management issue within that system I was able to reflect on the impact that prevailing culture and ingrained behaviours have on organisational process. I would greatly recommend the programme, particularly to colleagues operating at Director level or equivalent"

J B Chief Executive, Primary Care Trust, UK

With this simple, but dynamic, view on leadership the programme has focussed on both individual management skills and the long term and persisting institutional learning and networking between professionals in different countries.

The participants have been challenged to work at high speed with, and through, each other, with unconventional methods and with a clear goal. To work with complex problems in foreign territories with a fixed time and date for the completion of the mission, (the co-consultancy assignment), has helped many participants to overcome barriers in themselves. By helping others you learn about yourself. That is why the programme essentially is based on co-consultancy working with integrated international teams. Also, the interactive learning and knowledge-sharing between teams has helped to show how resourceful groups and organisations are. Many participants experience how easy it was to discover this.

"Taking part in the Programme was hugely enjoyable both socially and professionally; the protected learning time was invaluable and the methods adopted by the Programme ideas, with leadership delivery and outcome rather than a specific topic for discussion I became particularly aware of my own shortcomings as a Leader as well as my strength and I was able to experience the difficulty of achieving and sustaining team working in a protected environment. I know this has influenced the approach I now apply to working in the NHS and beyond; my career development has also benefited"

A L, General Practitioner, UK