I have always enjoyed coming across philosophical statements that encapsulate life. One of my favorites has always been “that which I am aware of I can control, that which I am unaware of controls me”. The premise that by raising awareness you can achieve a greater degree of performance has manifested itself in numerous areas […]
Category: BMJ Leader
Evaluating Values by Rageshri Dhairyawan
As medical leaders, we are encouraged to think about our values. The Faculty of Medical Leadership and management standards for medical professionals are guided by values espoused in the Seven Principles of Public Life, which include integrity and accountability. But who and what we value is just as important as our personal values. And ideally, […]
After the speeches: what now for NHS staff race discrimination? by Roger Kline
Six years ago The Snowy White Peaks of the NHS 1 highlighted the scale of race discrimination in the NHS, the UK’s biggest employer of Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) staff. COVID-19 has shown so much more needs to be done. 300 health and social care staff have died so far from COVID-19, a disproportionate number […]
Leadership and Racism in Pandemic Times by Jamiu Busari
On the 9th of June 2020, George Perry Floyd Jr. was laid to rest in Pearland, Texas. What ensued in the aftermath of his killing was a cathartic revolt to a pre-existent global pandemic. It was a pandemic that the world preferred to believe did not exist, but pervaded the inner fabric of our educational, […]
The heroic NHS immigrants: an idea that has run its course? by Saurabh Jain
In my view, Britain has always had a thorny relationship with race and immigration, and this is magnified in the NHS. The NHS has relied on migrant labour using colonial ties to fill its ranks such as nurses from the Windrush generation or doctors from the Indian subcontinent. 43% of senior NHS doctors and 47% of junior doctors are from Black, […]
Adapting Leadership and Staying Empowered – the Three Critical T’s by Nicci Statham
So here we are just past the first peak of a virus outbreak. A BIG shock for our NHS leaders and the world. Part of me wonders if this is a big wake up call to the reality that things can change at any time, in any way. We really aren’t in control of anything, […]
Can healthcare leaders provide emotional containment for their staff as COVID-19 levels fall? by Catherine Sandler
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]