How can our sector develop emerging talent?

Great leaders and great organisations go together. It’s difficult to find examples of one without the other.

Traditionally, an organisation’s leader and figurehead is the chief executive. But increasingly, the expectation is that boards provide the strategic direction of the organisation. In both cases the need to attract, develop and retain the right people for the trust has never been more important, but is this something we are really giving sufficient priority to?

We need a new cohort of leaders to take health into the future – aspiring leaders with a range of skills and experience who can take on and breathe fresh life in to some of the long-standing issues - such as diversity -  in our sector. Recruiting an innovative and entrepreneurial leader may not be the number one priority when you are thinking about finding talent for senior positions, but those who have yet to reach board level have a key role to play in looking at things in a new light.

We need a new cohort of leaders to take health into the future – aspiring leaders with a range of skills and experience who can take on and breathe fresh life in to some of the long-standing issues - such as diversity - in our sector.

In order to enable future leaders we need to increase the confidence of colleagues below board level and give them the ability to excel in a leadership role in order for them to consider this as a future career option. We have programmes such as the Aspiring Chief Executives programme which can help build their leadership toolkit and leadership presence. However, in order to maximise their potential as a future chief executive we need to help them build contacts and learn from those who are already there.

Events such as our Annual Conference and Exhibition 2019 are good opportunity to challenge our thinking and garner perspectives from others in the sector who have gone through similar experiences. So once again, we are opening up the opportunity for aspiring leaders in the sector to join us at our flagship event. We are offering half price tickets for anyone below board level who is considering taking the next step on the ladder to a senior leadership position.

In order to enable future leaders we need to increase the confidence of colleagues below board level and give them the ability to excel in a leadership role in order for them to consider this as a future career option.

This year's dynamic annual conference programme focuses on 'ambition to reality' – exploring how providers are embracing new opportunities with a realistic eye on the need to recover performance, stabilise finances and invest to transform.

The event is a great way to gain inside knowledge of government thinking to help you and your organisation future proof your trust. It will give you and your colleagues the space and time to talk to NHS trusts in the acute, specialist, mental health, community and ambulance sectors, as well as consultants, NHS Providers colleagues and top speakers from outside the sector.

To find out more about our development place offer and to book a place please visit our annual conference webpage.

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