The Health Foundation’s position statement on effective leadership development

What is it?

This report seeks to deepen our understanding of the nature of those leadership development interventions that are most likely to develop the skills and competences associated with quality improvement.

What is it about?

This research was established in order to develop a position statement which reflected current best practice encompassing published work on leadership development. The position statement which resulted from this work includes 25 aims of the Foundation’s leadership development programme and describes the nature of effective leadership. It also includes nine principles of effective leadership, which are:

1. Start with real experiences and work environments
2. Create an environment for learning and development
3. Keep patient care and health at the centre
4. Support participants to critically review beliefs, associated actions and leadership choices
5. Support and encourage participants to behave in ways which are in line with their values
6. Develop effective relationships to achieve the desired purpose, ultimately to improve the quality of health services
7. Make the most of difference
8. Release energy and resourcefulness
9. Produce together  knowledge for change.

Who wrote it?

Dr Lisa Anderson, Fellow, Strategy Enterprise and Leadership for Innovation Group, Leeds University Business School.

Becky Malby, Director, Centre for Innovation in Health Management, University of Leeds.

Kieran Mervyn, Research Assistant, Leeds University Business School.

Professor Richard Thorpe, Leeds University Business School.

What do the different sections include?

• The Health Foundation’s position statement on effective leadership development interventions
• The research methodology
• Literature review
• Focus groups
• Delphi study.

Who is it for?

This report is intended for healthcare managers who are responsible for the commissioning leadership development and for providers responsible for developing leadership interventions. They should use this report as an independent source of data to inform decisions and take actions that will lead to better quality leadership development programmes. 

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