Careers

Becoming a good leader — developing the skills required

By Catherine Duggan MRPharmS, PhD, Cathy Mooney, MRPharmS, Pippa Roberts, MRPharmS, Chris Green, MRPharmS, Graeme Hall, MRPharmS, Philip Howard, MRPharmS, and Richard Catell, MRPharmS

Leadership skills are particularly important in a changing NHS. This article describes some current opinion about leadership qualities and suggests ways in which they might be developed in pharmacy staff
Careers series	Becoming a good leader series
This article as FULL TEXT PDF (40K)

Catherine Duggan is associate director of clinical pharmacy for development and evaluation, London South East and Eastern

Catherine Mooney is director of governance and corporate affairs, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Pippa Roberts is director of pharmacy, Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Chris Green is director of pharmacy and medicines management, Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Graeme Hall is assistant chief pharmacist for clinical services, University Hospitals of Leicester

Philip Howard is clinical pharmacy manager, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Richard Cattell is director, South West Medicines Information and Training, Bristol

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Good leader

SUMMARY

An old adage says, “managers do things right, leaders do the right things.” Hence, having good leaders is particularly important for organisations that are experiencing uncertainty or change, so that departments and services move with the times and in the right direction.

The NHS is an organisation facing challenging times, including the meeting of targets and dealing with cost restraints and reformation, all of which require visionary leaders.

A recent letter from the new Chief Executive of the NHS urged trust managers to identify and develop leadership capabilities within their own organisations.

This article describes some current opinion about the qualities good leaders should possess and gives an overview of ways to develop them.

Leadership qualities

“What makes a good leader?” is a common question. Opinion has identified a good leader as a person who is able to take opportunities to change things, confidently exercise initiative and has the ability to experiment and make mistakes.

Further qualities identified include having self-belief, a broad perspective and a capacity to tolerate loneliness.

Full text article (PDF 40K)

Careers articles wanted This series profiles different careers available to hospital pharmacists and is designed to give pharmacists a “taster” of working in different specialities. Any hospital pharmacist who has an idea for an article or who is considering writing about their career is invited to contact the editorial office on 020 7572 2425/2419.

Ideas can be e-mailed to
hannah.pike@pharmj.org.uk or
rachel.graham@pharmj.org.uk

Articles can be sent by post to Hospital Pharmacist, 1 Lambeth High Street, London, SE1 7JN