As an executive coach working with business and public sector leaders during the 2008-11 recession, I was struck by how some groups of employees coped much better than others during difficult times. Certain organisations seemed able to maintain productivity, motivation and trust during the crisis while others in the same sector were characterised by high […]
Latest articles
Mental Health Awareness for a week, then what? By Dr Tim Ojo
The theme of this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week (18th to 24th of May) is ‘kindness’. It was changed from the originally planned theme of ‘sleep’. The change of theme is but one of a multitude of changed plans that have been forced upon us all by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Mental Health Foundation coordinates […]
Maintaining Humanity in the Covid 19 Crisis by Dr Katy Steward
Synopsis: In this blog, Katy Steward explores the importance of positive, empathic leadership in the face of the Covid19 emergency, and how a different style from ‘command and control’ can help bring out the best in leaders and teams. The NHS will need leaders to support each other and harness team energy as the situation […]
Not Angels, Humans: Thoughts on Nurses and Nursing, for International Nurses Day by Tony Berendt
Today is International Nurses Day, and the 200th anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale, who did so much to establish the values and ethos of the nursing profession as we understand it today. As one of the Editorial team of BMJ Leader, I want to wish all nurses, of all seniorities and across the […]
Decisions, Decisions, Decisions – Is the Concept of Decision Fatigue an Issue in Covid-19 Times? By Rita Symons
Human beings are incredibly complex and we know it is estimated we make between 10,000 and 40,000 decisions a day. For many of our frontline staff faced with the Pandemic, there has been a need to multiply the number of critical decisions they make each day. This is in the context of their own very […]
Leadership Lessons and Hope for a Post-Crisis World By Jaason Geerts
There is perhaps no greater need for, or measure of, leadership than during a crisis. When the shadow of a crisis is looming and as it onsets, we immediately look to experts – those with advanced knowledge, capabilities, and training – to take charge. Military units, for example, have highly trained personnel for every aspect […]
Psychological PPE: Survival Kit for Creating a Safer Culture in the Covid-19 context by Dr Jeanne Hardacre & Dr Alexander Margetts
By Dr Jeanne Hardacre, Founding Director, Impact4Health & Dr Alexander Margetts, Clinical Psychologist, University of Leicester We have just spent 5 days as members of the newly-formed Training & Education Faculty for NHS Nightingale Hospital London. Alongside the phenomenal core team, we and others have been immersed in helping to shape, define and road-test a […]
Compassionate leadership is not a ‘nice to have’ – for clinicians confronting COVID-19, it is a powerful weapon by Dame Clare Marx
None of us has experience of a pandemic like this. Dealing with coronavirus is the biggest challenge to face the NHS since it was founded. And it’s going to be difficult for us all. Doctors will find themselves working at the edge of their comfort zone. Some will confront harrowing situations. There will be difficult […]
Welcome to the BMJ Leader Blog
By Tony Berendt & Amit Nigam, Associate Editors, BMJ Leader Welcome to the BMJ Leader blog. With the Covid-19 pandemic raging around us, leadership and management, in health and care systems, are more important than ever. We feel that BMJ Leader has a responsibility to respond to this unique global challenge not only through our […]