Leadership development programme for cluster leads in Wales

Case study

The contract was for the provision on a leadership development programme for cluster leads in Wales – the cohorts were made up of GPs, commissioning managers, dentists, dental leads from the health board, community pharmacists, pharmacy leads and optometrists.  The programme was designed for the client and comprised: two leadership development training days covering MBTI (Myers Briggs Type Indicator), leading change, influencing skills and building a team; four action learning set sessions and three one to one coaching sessions.  The aims included a greater awareness of the role of cluster lead and of the different parts of primary care, getting to know different provider organisations and how they work and to collaborate effectively across a cluster.

The programme also aimed to improve the participants self-awareness to further develop as compassionate leaders in particular when working across organisational boundaries.  We used the MBTI psychometric tool to improve understanding and promote learning both of self and of others.  The session, individual reports and follow up feedback in one to one coaching provided a better understanding of team dynamics, strengths, preferences and possible derailing behaviours as well as coping tools and mechanisms. We included training and discussion on decision making and influencing across organisational boundaries as well as from within their own teams. The action learning sets provided the safe space for small groups to listen to and learn from each other across different roles and geographies.  They were able to hear how other areas managed similar difficult funding decisions and people management. The one to one coaching provided a foundation for the further development of self-awareness and a space to discuss how to apply the programme learning.  It also allowed for conversation about improving work-life balance and managing difficult colleagues and team members.   The mixed groups both of role and health board area allowed for rich conversation and learning about different ways of working and a greater appreciation of the common goals, looking at how to develop an aligned culture and associated behaviours.