From super-hero to super-connector, changing the -leadership culture in the NHS

The NHS Long Term Plan recently published recognises the critical role of leadership to the delivery of high-quality, sustainable healthcare and sets out an ambition for compassionate and inclusive leadership behaviours. There is good evidence that the biggest influence on organisational culture is the quality of leadership, affecting patient outcomes and staff experience. However, the current NHS staff survey paints a sobering picture of the current experience of the 1.2 million staff who work in the NHS in England. Changing culture requires leadership effort and behavioural change at every level of the system, from the clinical microsystem to the national arms-length bodies. Leaders can take positive action by regularly seeking feedback, paying attention to the leadership behaviours within their team and finding ways to ensure the team can reflect and improve their team working. This opinion article offers an introduction to compassionate and inclusive leadership in healthcare. Our intention is to provide the reader with a sense of agency to act and improve local culture for the benefits of patients and staff.