Leadership
Leadership
Training as a doctor is not just about clinical development but also about developing skills that will eventually support transitions into senior leadership positions. It can therefore be helpful to consider different ways to build and develop leadership throughout the training journey.
Resident doctors will have a range of life and professional experiences that will help shape their own leadership style. Many of the skills and knowledge around this may come less from formal teaching and rather from the mentorship and team work that resident doctors experience day to day. Resident doctors may see examples of both good and bad leadership demonstrated and will take this on board. However, it can be useful to consider formal ways in which doctors can develop leadership skills.
Detailed guidance on leadership is provided in GMC guidance Leadership and Management. Trainers should have an understating on how this relates specifically to individual specialties and how specific aspects may need to be demonstrated at different stages of training. However, there is a lot of common ground in terms of the expectations and core skills that underpins leadership development within medicine. We have included areas below that are more commonly brought up and discussed when resident doctors or trainers are in touch with the TDWS service. These cross over with some of the other areas of professionalism that are discussed on this page.
Suggested Resources
(Free unless otherwise stated)
NES Leadership and Management Programme (LaMP)
Designed by NES to help and support individuals as they develop a range of personal and professional skills and behaviours which will contribute to their effectiveness as a clinician. This programme is particularly beneficial for Medical & GP trainees approaching CCT.
*The cost for the one-day online course is £100 and £175 for a face-to-face course. Resident doctors in training study leave budgets have been "top-sliced" to cover the cost of the programme.
The Edward Jenner programme of online learning has been developed by the NHS Leadership Academy. This is their "first port of call if you’re looking to build a strong foundation of leadership skills that can help enhance your confidence and competence in your role. The programme has been designed to offer flexibility as a suite of online short courses.
Professional skills development Online course
A curated list of 6 courses focussing on the key non-clinical skills that will advance you as a professional. Covering everything from conflict resolution to presenting.
* To access courses on BMJ Learning, you generally need to be a registered member and log in with BMA credentials
Collection of Free Open University courses
Accessible online courses focused on developing key transferable skills. While not all are healthcare-specific, the content is relevant to professional growth in medical contexts:
Learn how to adapt and thrive in the face of workplace challenges.
Importance of Interpersonal Skills
Understand the value of effective communication in professional settings. Working in Diverse Teams
Explore how diversity enhances team dynamics and how to collaborate effectively.
Functioning Effectively in Groups
Improve your contribution to team settings by enhancing working relationships.
You as a Healthcare Leader: Effective Leadership in Health Services
Find out how to become a better leader in health services by developing deep self-awareness and appraising your values.
This page was last updated on: 05.11.2025 at 12.18