We spent some time with Martin Hetherington, Associate Director of Finance at Good Hope Hospital, to discuss the key skills he brings from a career in the private sector to the NHS. Martin reflects on the importance of quickly identifying the issues you face when stepping into a new management role and working with your team to devise a plan to tackle these problems. Martin shares some great advice on managing difficult conversations and the vital leadership skills required to deliver tough messages to your team.
3 Quotes to lead by...
1. A TOUGH MESSAGE
‘Some of the services were costing up to 80% more for each unit of activity they were producing. That’s a tough message for clinicians and operational leaders who actually work so so hard just to keep the lights on, just so patients can be treated.’
Q. How do you deliver difficult messages to your team? How do you ensure your team feels supported and heard when challenging situations arise?
2. HONEST, EVIDENCE-BASED AND UNEMOTIONAL
‘When we get into those conversations that are difficult to have it’s got to be very honest, it’s got to be evidence-based but it’s got to be quite unemotional because you’ve got to just really call it as it is.’
Q. How do you prepare for difficult conversations with your team?
3. PASSION, ENERGY, COMMITMENT AND HUMILITY
‘You’ve got to have a lot of passion and you’ve got to have a lot of energy but I also think what I’ve learnt from the NHS is humility.’
Q. What does humility mean to you? How can you demonstrate humility in your leadership?
External Resources
How Leaders Can Communicate Tough Messages in their Organisation
From difficult to transformative – the art of handling those hard-to-have conversations
The best leaders have humility
