Leadership development in healthcare: transform your career

Healthcare is a multifaceted and ever-evolving industry. After working and gaining experience in healthcare, it’s natural you might start looking towards developing your leadership capability. If you’re a healthcare professional wanting to progress or make a change in your career, becoming a leader in this industry may be your next step.

It can be an overwhelming prospect, and you may have many questions about the types of leadership roles in the industry. What healthcare leadership roles are there? How do you progress into one of them?

To help you get answers to these questions, we spoke with an experienced healthcare leader. Along with valuable insights, you’ll also find the key factors to consider for achieving leadership development in healthcare and begin on this rewarding career path.

Find your calling in healthcare leadership

Interested in a healthcare leadership career but still trying to decide which direction to take?

Coral Wilkinson is the founder of See Me Aged Care Navigators and a thought leader in the aged care space, with previous hospital leadership roles as a clinical nurse consultant and nursing director. Working across client and non-client-facing management roles, she explains what is involved in being a healthcare leader.

“Aspiring leaders should be aware of the two streams they can follow — clinical and management — as the focus of the work is very different,” she says.

“With clinical leadership, you’re still connected to your patients, and you can have some bearing on administrative leadership. In the more administrative leadership roles, you can be disconnected from the clinical environment but influence and make decisions.”

Professionals may follow a natural career progression from their current role into a leadership position, working up the hospital hierarchy for example, or move into a new health service. Whichever direction you take, understanding the challenges and opportunities of pursuing leadership in healthcare management is the best place to start.

Shifting your career to become a healthcare leader

Transitioning into a senior position can be nerve-wracking in any industry, and healthcare is no different. For experienced staff moving into a leadership position, Coral says there can be challenges.

“It’s not always an easy transition,” she says. “In clinical management roles, having direct patient contact and leading a team of clinicians can help you feel like you’re making a difference. However, being a leader in the management stream also means you have to make difficult decisions, and people won’t always agree with you.”

Although challenging, Coral says they’re rewarding positions to hold. “The influence that you can have at that level of leadership can make such significant change.”

Other rewarding elements for Coral are engaging with a team, having them champion the changes she implements, and then evaluating the impact of change. “The difference in team satisfaction then translates to patient care, so you can make a huge difference.”

Master your leadership skills in healthcare

If you’re focused on leadership development in healthcare and have an ultimate goal of a leadership position in mind, there are some steps you can take to achieve your goal.

The considerations below will help you understand how to be a leader in healthcare, and give you an overview of what’s involved when pursuing a senior role.

• Gain professional experience

A healthcare professional should have considerable experience in their field of interest before stepping into a leadership role. For example, a registered nurse will generally need at least two years of experience before considering a leadership position.

• Prioritise ongoing education

Remain up-to-date with continuing professional development and registration. Ongoing education ensures your healthcare knowledge is relevant and promotes an appreciation for lifelong learning. “Even now, change is happening all the time, and you have to keep on top of it,” Coral says. “Educating yourself every week — as a leader — is essential.”

• Pursue postgraduate studies

Enrol in a postgraduate course that aligns with your professional goals and the career outcomes you want. GlobalHealth Education partners with Australian universities delivering healthcare leadership and management courses that teach skills like strategic planning, systems and service innovation and managing risk in healthcare.

Courses include Southern Cross University’s (SCU) Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Leadership and the University of Technology Sydney’s (UTS) Master of Health Services Management, both offering different levels of qualifications.

• Follow job opportunities

Seek opportunities for a promotion in the healthcare service you work for. Alternatively, explore external job opportunities that align with your newly acquired leadership skills and professional experience.

“Healthcare professionals considering a leadership role should take the next step. There are courses and education offered to assist, so take advantage of what’s out there and do it,” Coral says.

A rewarding move for your healthcare career

Ready to start progressing your career as a healthcare leader? Leadership and management positions come with both challenges and rewards, and there are many paths to move your career forward.