Studying this module has opened my eyes to the immense value of coaching and mentoring and I am really excited to be able to take the skills I have learnt into my clinical practice once qualified and use them for the benefit of my patients .”
© rikkyal via Getty Images within education provides the opportunity for students to understand the integration of leadership skills and professional values . Social leadership , where the community itself is central and the leader provides support , new knowledge and respect , is key to understanding where our strengths lie as leaders ( Stodd 2016 ).
The importance of coaching
Coaching has been recognised as a popular tool for individual professional development , developing employee potential and work performance ( CMI 2021 ). In the context of healthcare and in relation to millennial staff , Sherman ( 2017 ) suggests that leaders need to change their management thinking .
Focusing on performance alone will not promote the type of work culture that nourishes staff . Coaching not only has the potential to nourish , it also promotes building healthy work environments that enhance professional caring , promote quality patient outcomes , and encourage strong teamwork .
On receiving her award at an event hosted for Coventry University by CMI in November 2021 , Lydia said : ‘ Studying this module has opened my eyes to the immense value of coaching and mentoring and I am really excited to be able to take the skills I have learnt into my clinical practice once qualified and use them for the benefit of my patients .’
Having engaged in professional practice through recent placement experiences , Lydia has already realised the potential for coaching within her practice and for the benefit of future clients .
This course has been designed to enhance career opportunities and develop occupational therapists who are leadership-ready to influence occupational therapy , be at the forefront of service development , and as a leader-coach , work to enhancing the quality of client care , intervention outcomes and improving people ’ s lives .
This is certainly being evidenced through the recognition of Lydia ’ s achievements in the recent CMI Awards .
R
NHS Improvement ( 2019 ) Investing in chief allied health professionals : insights from trust executives . A guide to reviewing AHP leadership for trust boards and clinicians . Available online at : www . england . nhs . uk / wp-content / uploads / 2021 / 05 / investing-in-chiefahp-leadership . pdf [ accessed 10 November 2021 ]
Tempest S and Dancza K ( 2019 ) Embracing the leadership potential of occupational therapy in the social age : time for a silent revolution . British Journal of Occupational Therapy , 82 ( 10 ): 601-603
Sherman RO ( 2017 ) The leader coach . Nurse Leader , 15 ( 3 ): 154-155
Words DR RUTH HEAMES , principal lead , Postgraduate Strategy Unit , Coventry University , SUSAN BARNES , assistant professor , Postgraduate Strategy Unit , Coventry University and SUSAN O ’ NEILL , course director , pre-registration MSc Occupational Therapy , Coventry University .
r . heames @ coventry . ac . uk
January 2022 OTnews 35