Leadership, Mentoring & Coaching

Leadership

Leadership is doing the right thing when nobody is looking. It's about standing up for people who might not have a voice or the same privilege as you. Leadership is not about ego, it's about lifting others up.

What do you think makes a great leader?

Many organisations offer leadership courses, and there are also a number of leadership courses run via the NHS Leadership Academy, aimed at leaders at different stages of their careers.

Why not take a look at some of the leadership courses on offer?

Leadership Courses

Management

Management is all about achieving goals, and this often involves people. Management and leadership are often differentiated by the former being about power and control, whilst the latter is about influencing and supporting. But they don't have to be mutually exclusive - a great leader and a great manager can be the same person!

What do you think makes a great manager?

There are may great management courses and reading resources, and if you want a career in NHS management then you can also join the NHS Graduate Management Training Scheme, which fast tracks people to prepare them to work in senior management positions within the NHS

Graduate Management Training Scheme

Mentoring

Wanting to develop your career to the next level? Not sure how to get there or how to go about it? Then it might be time to find a mentor.

A mentor is somebody who can help you to define and frame your goals and aspirations. A good mentor doesn't tell you what to do, but can advise you based on their own expertise and experience. A successful mentoring relationship can last for a few months or for years. Mentors are usually more experienced than you and they may have been on a similar journey to you, or they may hold the qualities that you aspire for yourself.

It can be difficult to find a mentor, but many organisations and professions have schemes where you can request a mentor or offer to be one yourself.

It's one of the most empowering things you can do, so why not explore mentoring? You could start with reading around the subject, or listening to some mentoring podcasts - there is a wealth of information out there.

Why not watch this TedEx You Tube video on the power of mentoring to learn more

Coaching

Need some help in your career, but don't know whether you need a mentor or a coach? This is a common problem, so lets start by differentiating the two roles.

A mentor can help guide you in your career and professional development, based on their advice and experience.

A coach is somebody who can help guide you in your career and professional development, both in the short-term and long-term, by asking coaching questions, rather than giving advice or opinion. Coaches do not need to work in your professional area to be able to support your growth and development.

Great coaches are hard to find, but when you do they can make a real difference!

Want to become a coach? There are courses available where you can develop the skills. Want to understand more about coaching, and how it differs from mentoring? There is a wealth of information on the web and also in books and podcasts.

Find out more about the GROW model of coaching below:

Why not go and explore? Be curious. You never know, it might just change your life.