{"id":984,"date":"2025-09-04T08:00:46","date_gmt":"2025-09-04T08:00:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/bmjleader\/?p=984"},"modified":"2025-09-03T08:14:44","modified_gmt":"2025-09-03T08:14:44","slug":"shakespeare-strategy-and-the-soul-of-healthcare-leadership-by-aliya-turk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/bmjleader\/2025\/09\/04\/shakespeare-strategy-and-the-soul-of-healthcare-leadership-by-aliya-turk\/","title":{"rendered":"Shakespeare, strategy, and the soul of healthcare leadership. By Aliya Turk"},"content":{"rendered":"

Recently, I had the opportunity to take part in an unforgettable leadership development day delivered by Olivier Mythodrama<\/em> for the Faculty of Medical Leadership and Management (FMLM).<\/p>\n

This wasn\u2019t your typical healthcare training session. It was immersive, unconventional, and deeply reflective \u2014 using Shakespeare\u2019s Henry V<\/em> as a mirror to explore our own leadership stories.<\/p>\n

At first glance, it might seem odd to turn to a 16th-century play to better understand how to lead in modern healthcare. But through the lens of mythodrama \u2014 a powerful blend of theatre, psychology, and leadership theory \u2014 we discovered how timeless and relevant the challenges and triumphs of Henry V are to our own roles.<\/p>\n

Archetypes in Leadership: Who Are You at Work?<\/strong><\/p>\n

One of the most powerful aspects of the session was exploring leadership archetypes \u2014 the instinctive roles we embody in different situations. These included the Sovereign<\/strong>, Explorer<\/strong>, Warrior<\/strong>, Transformer<\/strong>, Renegade<\/strong>, Storyteller<\/strong>, Dreamer<\/strong>, Lover<\/strong>, Nurturer<\/strong>, and Strategist<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

We reflected on which of these archetypes we most naturally embody in our professional lives, which ones we rely on most often, and which are underused. As a pharmacist, I found myself resonating with the Strategist<\/strong>, constantly analysing, planning, and problem-solving for the safety and care of patients. As an individual leader I\u2019m more of\u00a0 Lover. <\/strong>\u00a0Yet the session helped me realise how activating the Dreamer<\/strong>, Storyteller<\/strong>, or even the Renegade<\/strong> could help me become a more visionary, empathetic, and innovative leader.<\/p>\n

Each archetype holds unique gifts \u2014 and in a complex environment like healthcare, tapping into a broader spectrum of these roles could strengthen not only our own leadership but also the wellbeing of our teams and patients.<\/p>\n

The Journey of Henry V: A Mirror to Our Own Leadership Paths<\/strong><\/p>\n

The day took us through the leadership journey of Henry V \u2014 from youthful uncertainty to visionary king. We examined pivotal moments from his story, such as:<\/p>\n