Introduction
The Marian Reed Special Award was established, in line with the requirements of the leadership programme at the Florence Nightingale Foundation, to meet two aims:
- To develop and enhance the individual’s leadership skills
- To help define long term career objectives and maximise professional impact.
When I commenced the scholarship I had five immediate career objectives.
- Redefine my career direction by increasing my personal network, challenging my thinking and considering my options.
- Gain a better understanding of my strengths and weaknesses and how I could best develop myself for my next opportunity.
- Consolidate my learning to date and in an environment which will help me to understand where my strengths are and where I would be best placed going forward.
- To learn with peers to help me to make the decisions I need to take about my future direction.
- To secure a rewarding and interesting post in which my skills will be fully utilised and which is focused on developing the nursing profession to ensure the delivery of high quality patient care.
Reflections
I was awarded the Marian Reed Special Award in December 2015. Since that time I have undertaken a range of personal development activities.
The last year has been significant for me in terms of career change and personal development.
I have spent the last year in NHS England working as Director of Nursing latterly combining this with the role of Independent Care Sector Regional Lead for the North of England. Having spent the 15 years prior to this as a Director of Nursing in provider organisations (substantially acute teaching hospitals) the transition to the style and way of working of NHS England has been significant. My role within NHS England has given me considerable exposure to the national nursing team and to the care home sector of which I had very limited prior knowledge.
I commenced the Florence Nightingale (Marian Reed) Leadership Scholarship in December 2015, 4 months after joining NHS England.
The leadership scholarship has helped me to understand the type of roles I am most suited to and why this is. The analytics at the start of the programme reinforced my understanding of both my strengths and weaknesses and have provided areas to work with my coach. All the areas for development identified in the initial analytics are areas which I need to focus on. Learning at RADA is proving invaluable as I focus on how I present myself and something that I must continue to practice allowing, for example, time to plan and rehearse (on my own or with colleagues) before significant meetings or events.
The Authentic Leadership Programme focussed on the importance of a strong moral compass – knowing where you are coming from and the things that you hold really important to you. Sticking to these may be difficult but deviation from the direction of your moral compass will leave you questioning your own values and take you away from your purpose. The programme talked about finding your moral compass and techniques to help follow this.
I am trying to focus much more on the positives and the successes and dwelling less on the things that have gone wrong. Reflecting on these and keeping them in balance – remembering that things do go wrong but this is about learning. Stop the critical voice within me.
As a result of the leadership programme I have reflected on my personal philosophy of leadership. It is my belief that good leaders:
- Know their strengths and weaknesses and take steps to utilise their strengths and overcome their weaknesses
- Know what is important to them personally keeping a balance between their work and life goals
- Are defined as much by how they deliver as what they deliver
- Recognise, nurture and encourage those they work with
- Are excellent communicators using a variety of methods to communicate throughout the system
The interaction and leadership that I give to colleagues in Nursing and other professions and patients and members of the public has, undoubtedly, been shaped by the Florence Nightingale Leadership Scholarship. I have valued the opportunity that this has given me and will continue to maintain my links with the Florence Nightingale Foundation and its alumni.
At the start of the programme I had 5 short term goals and believe that I have achieved the first four. The fifth goal was about securing a new role. I achieved this during the course of the programme and am enjoying the challenges the role is bringing. More importantly I have developed in self-confidence and have a clearer sense of direction and purpose which will help me to identify and secure my next opportunity.
I shall continue my personal development with the aspiration to live as the leader I have described.
I am very grateful to the late Marian Reed and her family for bequeathing this scholarship which was made my personal development possible.
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank the following people:
Marian Reed and her family for the legacy which has made this scholarship possible.
Liz Robb, Chief Executive of the Florence Nightingale Foundation and her team at the Foundation for their help, support and guidance.
My mentor, Nigel Edwards, Chief Executive at the Nuffield Trust for his time, guidance and advice.
Lord Philip Hunt of King’s Heath for the opportunity to meet, find out more about the House of Lords and some very interesting conversation.
Margaret Kitching, Chief Nurse, NHS England (North) for her support and advice through the duration of this leadership programme.
The facilitators of the programmes I have undertaken.