“Overall, the programme has helped me feel more confident in my voice, my decision-making, and my ability to lead without needing to be perfect or have complete certainty.”
PCC’s Building confident women leaders programme provides the opportunity for women leaders and aspiring leaders from across health and social care organisations to consider their current challenges at work and explore their ambition through six sessions of group coaching and peer support led by an experienced coach. This article shares the background to this programme and the outcomes.
Helen Ellis
Over the years, I have had the privilege of working with many talented women across the NHS who are leading teams, services and change programmes, often while balancing significant personal and professional responsibilities. What I noticed was that many of these women had the skills, experience and potential to thrive, but too often lacked the confidence, space or support to fully step into their leadership potential.
That is why I developed Building confident leading women.
This is not a traditional leadership programme. It is a personal development journey that brings together up to eight women who meet monthly over six months. Together, we create a trusted and supportive network where participants can explore the challenges they face, share experiences openly and develop practical solutions.
Each group develops its own unique dynamic, but every cohort follows a similar journey. Conversations are often honest, sometimes difficult, frequently inspiring and always focused on growth. Participants support one another through workplace challenges, career decisions and personal development goals, building relationships that often continue long after the programme has ended.
As an experienced coach with a particular passion for developing women in leadership, I facilitate each session to ensure every participant can reflect, learn and grow. Women from organisations including NHS England, NHS Wales, ambulance services, integrated care boards, NHS Employers and primary care networks have taken part.
The themes explored are driven by the needs of the group and have included:
- Building confidence and finding your voice
- Managing imposter syndrome
- Preparing for interviews and promotion opportunities
- Handling difficult conversations
- Managing discrimination and micro-aggressions
- Improving impact and influence in meetings
- Work-life balance and wellbeing
- Decision-making and leadership resilience
What makes the programme different is the focus on action. Each participant leaves every session with practical ideas to apply immediately. Whether it is approaching a challenging conversation differently, contributing more confidently to meetings, making a significant career decision or building new professional relationships, participants are encouraged to test new approaches and share their learning with the group.
The outcomes speak for themselves. Participants consistently report increased confidence, stronger professional networks and a greater sense of clarity about their leadership journey. Many have gone on to secure new roles, take on greater responsibilities or make important decisions they had previously lacked the confidence to pursue.
One participant reflected:
“This was a fantastic programme which exceeded my expectations, largely because of Helen’s warm and inclusive approach.”
Another shared:
“I made some big decisions during my time on the course, aided by having a safe space in which to talk openly and freely with fellow female professionals who understood the struggles women in particular face in keeping all the balls in the air.”
As the NHS continues to embrace collaborative working, neighbourhood health models and the ambitions of the 10 Year Plan, as well as embedding restructured teams and new ways of working, confident and compassionate leadership has never been more important. This programme helps women recognise their strengths, develop their leadership identity and build the confidence to take the next step.
Today, we have further national programmes open for booking , and we have bespoke programmes requested for individual organisations. We would be delighted to design and deliver tailored programmes specifically for your organisation.
If you would like to discuss how building confident women leaders could support you or your organisation, please get in touch at helen.ellis@pcc.nhs.uk.
