Leadership Health Check for Regional Health network

A group of students holding their completion certificates

Executive team enable the provision of vital health and wellbeing services to residents living on South Australia鈥檚 Yorke Peninsula and in the mid-north region.

Following the establishment of a new Executive team for the Network in 2022, Michael Davis, Director of People and Culture, in collaboration with Rural Support Service - SA Health, engaged Professional and Continuing Education to develop a customised education solution.

鈥淲e were a new organisation, formed following the previous government鈥檚 reorganisation of regional health services,鈥 Michael said.

鈥淏ecause of that, we had a new Executive team which held more responsibility than before, so we identified a need to build our capacity as leaders.

鈥淔rom an organisational perspective, it was crucial that our Executive were conscious of their own management style, and the impact that it has on our workforce and operations.鈥

With these factors in mind, Michael identified two primary objectives for YNLHN鈥檚 customised education solution: 

  • Equip and empower YNLHN鈥檚 Executive team with the skills to address complex and systemic challenges in healthcare settings; and
  • Build the individual, and collective, leadership capacity of its Executive team.

Professional and Continuing Education鈥檚 Business Development team and subject matter experts worked in partnership with Michael to develop an Executive Leadership Development program, customised to YNLHN鈥檚 Executive team and context.

Running from February to July 2023, and delivered in Adelaide, Wallaroo and Port Pirie, the Executive Leadership Development program consisted of two components: Understanding and Aligning Strengths and Developing Adaptive Capabilities.

A highlight of the Understanding and Aligning Strengths component of the Program was the group engagement, enabling members of the Executive team to get to know each other on a deeper level.

鈥淯ndertaking this program with colleagues 鈥 both in Adelaide and on the Yorke Peninsula 鈥 was excellent鈥e all learnt a lot about ourselves and each other,鈥 Michael Davis

Complementary to the focus on relationships, Developing Adaptive Capabilities 鈥渄rew our attention to the way we were approaching problems.鈥

鈥淚t encouraged us to take a proper look and gain perspective on how we undertake our roles as leaders 鈥 instead of just 鈥榣etting it happen鈥 鈥 and gave us the tools to do that effectively.

鈥淲e also found a lot of value in the adaptive leadership components of the Program, which helped us to develop our adaptive capacity,鈥 Michael said.

The Executive Leadership Development program received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with survey results from participants indicating increased confidence in raising ideas, tackling complex challenges and working with uncertainty.

Michael said that learnings from the Program are already being implemented in the Network.

鈥淭he Program has helped develop our confidence to deal with challenges now and into the future, and we鈥檝e been able to apply some of the tools and principals learnt in the Program in our day-to-day practice,鈥 he said. 

鈥淔or example, when we鈥檙e in meetings we鈥檝e learnt to take a 鈥榖alcony view鈥 and understand when our discussions aren鈥檛 being productive, and how to turn that around.

鈥淲ith a greater understanding of all our stakeholders, we鈥檝e also been able to tackle tricky problems in a more planned manner.

鈥淪ome of the tools and knowledge gleaned we鈥檒l also be able to hold onto for life, and apply it inside and outside the workplace.鈥

The Program's success in aligning strengths, enhancing adaptive capabilities, and fostering personal growth among its Executive team 鈥 facilitated by Professional and Continuing Education 鈥 signifies a positive step towards empowering its leaders to navigate complexity and drive positive change for healthcare services in the community.

鈥淲e really valued Professional and Continuing Education鈥檚 patience, expertise, and flexibility in working with us, it was a really positive experience,鈥Michael Davis

鈥淏oth the team coordinating the Program, and the subject matter experts delivering the Program, were able to guide us effectively to help us identify what we really needed.

鈥淲e really valued that authority and expertise.鈥

Whether you want to upskill your team, meet strategic goals or future-proof your workforce, our range of short courses, credentials and workforce strategy and planning services can be customised and packaged to address your unique business challenges.

Contact our Business Development team today to find out more.

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