So, what makes a good leader? Are leaders made or born? Is management a science or an art? The attributes of good leaders and managers are inextricably linked and have been defined as integrity, business understanding, consistency, ability to admit to mistakes, ability to listen and decisiveness. These are attributes that, I am sure, we would all aspire to emulate. I would also add ‘patience’ to this list, as good work does not happen overnight. A familiar comment by Eisenhower is a particular favourite of mine: ‘leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it’.

Good leadership and management are synonymous with change, something we are all familiar with in healthcare. During the last 10 years, healthcare has moved forward at breakneck speed. This has put healthcare professionals in expanding circles of influence. We are now aware of how our actions are governed, or managed, on both a micro- and a macro-level. This self-awareness of our professional personae has encouraged us to lead, although we might not be aware that we are leaders. Whether it is leading patients through difficult times, leading students on their path to professional fulfilment or leading our teams through challenging days, we as professionals must lead through an ever-changing landscape within healthcare.

So how do we prepare for these changes? Education and training is the core of our delivery of an excellent service to our patients. How we learn and what we learn has also changed.