Nick Shannon is a business psychologist whose work helps organisations achieve better and more sustainable performance by improving the selection and development of their leaders and leadership teams.

Nick works as a coach, consultant, mentor and facilitator within a diverse range of organisations Nick is a Chartered Coaching Psychologist and Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society.

Nick has a particular interest in the psychology of adult development and the cognitive and emotional transitions that managers must make in order to work successfully at higher levels of complexity and hierarchy.

He is the author of the book “Metathinking: The Art and Practice of Transformational Thinking” co-written with Dr. Bruno Frischherz which provides a guide for adults to develop more powerful thinking skills.

Nick is a member and treasurer of the European Society of Research into Adult Development (ESRAD) and regularly presents papers at their conferences.

Nick's links :

metathinking.org

LinkedIn

Reflective Questions for Health Leaders

As you think about your own leadership journey and the themes explored in this blog, consider the following questions to help you reflect and take actionable steps:

1. How comfortable am I with ambiguity and uncertainty in my decision-making, and how might embracing a dialectical mindset help me better navigate complex situations?
   Reflect on recent challenges where you had to make decisions without clear answers. How did you handle these moments, and what might you do differently with a more dialectical approach?
2. What assumptions do I bring into my leadership role, and how often do I challenge or question these assumptions?
   Consider whether there are beliefs you hold about your role, team, or patients that may be limiting. How could exploring opposing perspectives broaden your understanding?
3. How well do I incorporate diverse viewpoints within my team, and how might I further encourage open dialogue and collaborative thinking?
   Think about the culture of dialogue in your team. Are there ways to make it more inclusive, allowing for more innovative, nuanced ideas to emerge?
4. When faced with a complex decision, do I tend to seek a straightforward solution, or am I open to seeing multiple layers and possibilities?
   Reflect on whether your decision-making approach leans toward simplicity or complexity. What benefits could come from taking a step back and considering alternative frameworks?

If you’re interested in exploring coaching or learning more about leadership in healthcare, visit my website, where you’ll find a wealth of resources tailored to medical and public health professionals. Sign up for my newsletter to receive 3 hours of free CPD through the Health Career Success Programme and access a range of articles, tools, and guides to support your career journey.

Dr Fiona Day is the world’s only Leadership Coach with advanced coaching psychology, medical and public health qualifications (MBChB, FFPH, BPS Chartered Psychologist in Coaching Psychology, EMCC Master Practitioner Coach & Mentor) and is in a unique position to help you and your teams to flourish. Fiona specialises in coaching medical and public health leaders, is a coach Supervisor, and an EQA Foundation Award Holder. Book a free confidential 30 minute Consultation with Fiona here.

If you’re interested in exploring coaching or learning more about leadership in healthcare, visit my website, where you’ll find a wealth of resources tailored to medical and public health professionals. Sign up for my newsletter to receive 3 hours of free CPD through the Health Career Success Programme and access a range of articles, tools, and guides to support your career journey.

Dr Fiona Day is the world’s only Leadership Coach with advanced coaching psychology, medical and public health qualifications (MBChB, FFPH, BPS Chartered Psychologist in Coaching Psychology, EMCC Master Practitioner Coach & Mentor) and is in a unique position to help you and your teams to flourish. Fiona specialises in coaching medical and public health leaders, is a coach Supervisor, and an EQA Foundation Award Holder. Book a free confidential 30 minute Consultation with Fiona here.

Mat Daniel, MMEd MA(Coaching) PhD FRCSEd(ORL-HNS) has over 30 years’ experience in healthcare, and works as a Consultant Paediatric Otorhinolaryngologist.

He has / had leadership roles at local, regional and national level, including in medical associations, research, medical education, and guideline development.

Mat uses coaching as a leadership style, he trains others in coaching and leadership, and runs a variety of workshops designed to support doctors' career development.

You can connect with Mat via his website, LinkedIn and X

Reflective Questions for Health Leaders

As you think about your own leadership journey and the themes explored in this blog, consider the following questions to help you reflect and take actionable steps:

1. How authentically am I showing up in my leadership role?
   Reflect on whether you feel free to bring your full self to your work, and consider any aspects of your identity or values that you might be holding back. What changes could you make to lead in a way that aligns more closely with who you are?
2. In what ways could I introduce creativity into my leadership practices?
   Think about opportunities to foster psychological safety and open dialogue within your team. Are there small, creative adjustments you could make to encourage more honest, meaningful conversations?
3. How can I better support inclusivity and allyship within my team?
   Consider your own role in creating an inclusive environment. What specific actions can you take to be a visible ally for diverse team members or to support an open dialogue about diversity in your workplace?
4. What new learning or growth opportunities could reignite my passion for leadership?
   Reflect on areas that genuinely interest you, whether professionally or personally. How could pursuing new knowledge or skills outside of your usual focus enhance your effectiveness and satisfaction as a leader?

These questions are designed to deepen your self-awareness and help you make intentional choices that support both your development and the growth of those you lead.

Timestamps

1:03 Mat describes his earlier career and how its influenced his career choices

6:23 Mat tells us about his undergraduate special study module in leadership and how he teaches coaching as a core leadership skill

14:29 Mat describes how he uses creativity in his work

20:34 Mat outlines how he has role modelled being a gay surgeon

29:58 Mat talks about allyship

If you’re interested in exploring coaching or learning more about leadership in healthcare, visit my website, where you’ll find a wealth of resources tailored to medical and public health professionals. Sign up for my newsletter to receive 3 hours of free CPD through the Health Career Success Programme and access a range of articles, tools, and guides to support your career journey.

Dr Fiona Day is the world’s only Leadership Coach with advanced coaching psychology, medical and public health qualifications (MBChB, FFPH, BPS Chartered Psychologist in Coaching Psychology, EMCC Master Practitioner Coach & Mentor) and is in a unique position to help you and your teams to flourish. Fiona specialises in coaching medical and public health leaders, is a coach Supervisor, and an EQA Foundation Award Holder. Book a free confidential 30 minute Consultation with Fiona here.