Tag: management

My journey into leadership as a student midwife

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by Kelsie McQueen-Davies

My leadership journey seemed to begin when we had a lecture within my first module as a student midwife, in this session we were encouraged to look at the different types of leadership methods. I learnt that leaders are not necessarily managers, and anyone could be a leader. Following the session, we were encouraged that if we wanted to further our knowledge on leadership and begin a journey in finding our leadership methods then to apply for the Swansea university leadership program. At first, I was unsure if applying for the course was the correct thing to do, my personal tutor asked if I had thought about applying for the program and said it would be a fantastic opportunity for myself. Following this I plucked up the courage to apply, when I had the email confirming my space on the program, I was shocked and excited to see where this journey would take me.

During the first two conference days I had the opportunity to meet some wonderful fellow students from other subjects and work with them on different tasks. We were introduced to different leadership types and how some work at enhancing people’s abilities where others do the opposite. During this type I had the opportunity to explore emotional intelligence leadership as this was a key part of the conference day, the key aspects of this leadership type intrigued me further. I found myself imagining that if I was to progress into leadership that this was the type of leader I would like to be supportive, encouraging, motivational and empathetic.

Following this opportunity, it made me reflect on my previous carrier before studying midwifery, during my 7 years at Costa coffee it showed me an insight on the different types of leadership although I never realised this at the time. I witnessed first hand how with support people could achieve greatly but when this wasn’t available then things would become hard. I managed to progress to a supervisor role and although I had a lack of support by management, I knew that was not the way I wanted to work. Now looking back, I can see how I was a mixture between transformational and supportive leadership types, I describe myself as these types at the time I was exhibiting traits of both however I feel I could relate more wit0h the supportive leadership role.

In one of our activities on the second day we discussed within a small group of ways to improve experiences that students have within our area of study. From this I thought of a way of improving the midwifery buddy system, this system was designed as a one-to-one support network between a second year and first year student to support them within their first year of studying the midwifery course.

I could see areas to improve as there was a lack of communication between the second year in first year and in some instances, there was no initial contact at all. I considered whether having all the year groups included within a buddy group would be an improvement in the buddy system as it would allow multiple people to communicate together and share support rather than a one-to-one where there was no pressure an individual to support someone as this can be uncomfortable to begin with if there was no prior experience. I began discussing this with my personal tutor and we planned on creating the new buddy system as a support network for small groups with a mixture over the three cohorts. As part of the NMC code 9.4 midwives and nurses should support others with their learning and development, therefore practicing this technique as a student can support us further once qualified with our confidence to support future students (Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC), 2018).

As part of the leadership programme, I was given a mentor where we had a few meetings together to see how I was getting on with my leadership journey, where it was heading and to answer any questions or offer any support. I found this very beneficial especially when discussing leadership skills, I was being exposed to through practise and explaining how there were aspects of some individuals that I would like to incorporate into my leadership skills however there was other aspects of other individuals that maybe I wouldn’t incorporate. Having the ability to speak openly with someone regarding this and having feedback on the different types of leadership skills and values assisted me further in developing the new buddy system. I found my mentor very approachable and the knowledge she was passing down to me very beneficial as although we didn’t work within the same area, we had common values and just discussing leadership journeys allowed me to further understand the importance of a leadership role and understanding the different types.

From having this opportunity to delve deeper into leadership my knowledge has grown especially around emotional intelligence leadership, I believe the ship is gold standard and should be the goal that everyone strives to achieve. It is empowering for not just the leaders but also their employees and is a stepping stone to inspire others to experience leadership. Elements of emotional intelligence is the leader’s ability to acknowledge and manage their own emotions whilst also empathising with others, this will assist with building trust, loyalty and respect, whilst also showing adaptability team through challenges or change, and having communication skills that allows you to listen explain and have an open dialogue with others. These elements demonstrate gold standard leadership.

I’ve learned that anyone can manage but only some can lead, and this is because there is a great difference between management and leadership. Management tends to focus on organising and controlling so that the workflow is running smoothly, whereas leadership tends to focus on inspiring, encouraging and empowering so that employees feel a part of a team. However, it is understandable that leaders need to manage their tasks but there is also a need to inspire and elevate their teams as this will create a better working environment. This can be hard to achieve but with tools and support this is the best way forward. I feel from the further reading I have done on this topic; I am aware of what I need to work on and achieve to be a better leader for myself and my future work colleagues.

Looking forward to the future I believe that the experiences I have gained from this course has shaped me and will continue to shape me as a leader. I will continue to look at ways to improve my leadership skills and to support, encourage and empower others to look at their own leadership skills. The new student midwifery buddy system is a project that I will be focussing on and will hopefully make a change in the way students feel supported by their fellow student. Because this journey shapes us for our future and the future can be tough at times but with support and guidance, we can all achieve our goals.

References

Abdul-Rahim, H. Z., Sharbini, S. H., Ali, M., & Abdul-Mumin, K. H. (2024). Building strong foundations in leadership and management for midwifery students. British Journal of Midwifery, 32(1), 38–44. https://doi.org/10.12968/bjom.2024.32.1.38

da Silva Tiago, R. (2024). The Value of Emotional Intelligence in Midwifery: Enhancing Care and Outcomes for Mothers and Infants through Sustainable Development Goals and Leadership. Journal of Womens Healthcare & Midwifery Research, 1–6. https://doi.org/10.47363/JWHMR/2024(3)119

Dickson, C. A. W., Merrell, J., McIlfatrick, S., Westcott, L., Gleeson, N., & McCormack, B. (2024). Leadership practices that enable healthful cultures in clinical practice: A realist evaluation. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 33(3), 982–997. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.16951

Nursing & Midwifery Council. (2018). The code: Professional standards of practice and behaviour for nurses, midwives and nursing associates. http://www.nmc.org.uk/globalassets/sitedocuments/nmc-publications/revised-new-nmc-code.pdf

Terry, R., & Spendlove, Z. (2025). Early career midwives’ experiences of development opportunities and their relation to retention and job satisfaction: an interpretative phenomenological analysis study. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 25(1), 156–15. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-025-07227-6

My Student Leadership Experience – Clare Daniel

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The Leadership Academy experience at Swansea University has been an extraordinary journey.  One that has sparked passion, commitment, and curiosity. Leadership is quality that is not confined to CEOs or managers alone, but something that can be cultivated by anyone willing to take on the responsibility of leading. In this blog article I will explore the essence of effective leadership that I personally experienced with my mentor and with other individuals.  Below are some examples of my own findings after spending time with Hazel Powell and several other individuals who are leaders in their field.

I was very lucky to have been matched with Hazel Powell and listened intently to her presentation of supporting and initiating the training for overseas nurses.  Hazel is inspired by equality and diversity and is empowered to helping and nurturing them to train and integrate them into our culture.  I, like Hazel, am also empowered by equality and diversity and feel very strongly about supporting the journey of neuro diverse medical students into the NHS workforce.  This is something close to my heart, and together with my teaching background, the SLA has inspired me to pursue this venture further.  Hazel and I visited the training suite for the overseas nurses, and it was one of my most favourite experiences of the SLA.  These nurses leave their homes, family, sometimes young children.  They are already qualified in their fields yet undertake a rigorous training course along with several forms of inspections and examinations before being signed off to work in Wales.  They were so resilient and faced much adversity.  They were some of the most inspiring people I have ever met and felt a huge privilege of meeting them.

I have been invited and exposed to a variety of areas such as suicide prevention, meetings with HEIW, Clinical audit visits, Quality and Assurance meetings, I have been connected to areas such as PALS team in Morriston Hospital, Care after Death team, palliative care nurses, to which I now undertake bank work.  I am in contact with the “Arts in Health” team and digital stories.  I have experienced perspectives from social workers and Occupational therapists.  I am awaiting to experience and organise a placement with QI and a visit to Ashworth, along with the health hand safety team at the “Welsh Risk Pool”. 

I have also been in contact with the Bacteriology department to gain an insight in this field and experienced a day with a diabetic nurse to expand my knowledge in this area.  I am currently in contact with a nurse researcher who I hope to have a placement with to gain further insight into this role, as this is something that I would like to further explore.

  1.  Vision and purpose:

At the heart of leadership lies a clear vision and purpose. Great leaders possess the ability to articulate a compelling vision that inspires and motivates others. They have a deep understanding of their purpose, and they communicate this with authenticity and passion. A well-defined vision sets the direction and act as a guiding light, enabling the leader and their team to navigate challenges and make informed decisions.  I felt this very early on with Hazel, after being inspired by her presentation at the Leadership Academy.  Hazel was very open and honest about her own experiences and journey, and very engaging and supportive when answering questions, I had.  Another experience through the SLA I was privileged to meet Kimberley, an individual who had, in recent years, set up the “Care After Death Team”.

Kimberley was an absolute inspiration and her dedication to set up this phenomenal service and nurture and grow it, was absolutely awe inspiring, and rooted from her very own personal experiences within the NHS.  Kimberley was a rare individual and the NHS are extremely lucky to have her.

  •  Emotional intelligence:

Emotional intelligence distinguishes exceptional leaders from the rest. Leaders who possess high emotional intelligence have a heightened awareness of their own emotions and those of others. They are empathetic, understanding, and skilled at building relationships based on trust and respect. By acknowledging and effectively managing emotions, leaders can foster a positive and inclusive work environment, enhancing collaboration and productivity.  Whilst being on several meetings that Hazel chaired, I was in constant awe of her absolute determination and openness to support individuals and teams with ideas on how to improve services.  She was so supportive of trialling and testing new ideas to constantly want to improve services within the NHS. 

  •  Effective communication:

Clear and effective communication seems to be cornerstone of successful leadership, and something that has been highlighted to me on numerous occasions during my time at the SLA.   Leaders were skilled at conveying their vision, goals, and expectations to their team members. They listened attentively, sought feedback, and provided constructive guidance. The open and transparent communication helped to foster a culture of trust, encouraging innovation, and ensuring that everyone was aligned and working towards the same objectives.

  •  Adaptability and resilience:

It was evident on many occasions that I witnessed adaptability and resilience. By remaining flexible and open-minded, leaders can navigate uncertainties and inspire their teams to thrive amidst adversity.  Hazel was resilient and lead by example, demonstrating courage and perseverance, which evidently empowered others to overcome obstacles and achieve greatness.

  •  Empowerment and delegation:

Hazel and many individuals I met understood the importance of empowering their team members and delegated responsibilities effectively. They recognised individual strengths and talents, and they provide opportunities for growth and development. By empowering others, leaders create a sense of ownership and foster a culture of innovation and collaboration. Effective delegation allows the leaders to leverage the collective, enabling them to achieve successful outcomes.

  •  Continuous learning:

From my experiences, I have realised that leadership is a lifelong journey of growth and learning. Great leaders are committed to their personal and professional development. They stay curious seek new knowledge and embrace feedback and constructive criticism. By continually expanding their skills and perspectives, leaders can stay ahead of the curve and inspire their teams to do the same. They lead by example, encouraging a culture of continuous learning within their organisation.  For my personally, I am constantly curious and felt privileged to meet individuals who have inspired me and have helped nurture my growth and confidence.  I am very eager to experience as many different experiences as I can, purely to get to know the service as a whole and to understand the microsystems that work within it.

 The SLA has taught me that leadership is not about holding a position of authority; it is about inspiring others to achieve their full potential. I have witnessed clear vision, emotional intelligence, and excellent communication skills. I have seen adaptability, resilience, and empowering team members. Leadership is a journey that requires continuous learning and personal growth. By embracing these principles, I feel I can proceed and unlock my true potential and move forward, embracing each opportunity as a learning experience and I am determined to never lose my curiosity.  I look forward to continuing my journey with leadership and feel utterly privileged to have met the people I have through the SLA.  I hope to always be reach out to them for future support and growth. 

I have loved every minute of the SLA experience and encourage anybody thinking of applying to do so.  I also recommend those who apply to go after what inspires them, what they feel passionate about and if they have a vision of where they wish to go, or what they would like to improve in themselves is to reach out and make those connections. Use this opportunity to you advantage, and don’t waste a second.  Embrace it all.  Good luck!

How leadership has shaped my personal life and professional career – Toni Evans

Published on by berylmansel1 Comment

As a mature student I thought I understood leadership. I didn’t! It was only when I participated in the Leadership Academy, my knowledge began to grow and gave me the confidence to believe in myself. 

Leadership isn’t about being the loudest in the room, it is about active listening, self-awareness, communication, and collaboration, along with many more skills. I always knew I had some of these qualities but never really knew how I could develop them further and if I even had the ability to do so, but Beryl and her lovely team made myself and the rest of the room believe that we could. 

Attending the leadership academy was a little out my comfort zone, but being in a room full of leaders, I really had nothing to be worried about. Listening to motivational speakers, working within teams, and enjoying learning about myself and the type of leader I am and how I could enhance those skills that I already had. Being apart of the leadership academy also taught me self-awareness of my own traits and what I wanted to learn, grow, and how I wanted to empower other people with this knowledge. 

My name is Toni Evans and I am soon to be a year 3 student mental health nurse. Something that I am very passionate about and I am always looking for new ideas to put into clinical practice to make sure our lovely service users are receiving the best care possible and I believe the newly found leadership skills I have devloped will help me achieve this. 

Here are a few examples of how I can achieve this: 

Communication: 

Active listening is one of the main components that I believe makes a good leader. It is about being able to give someone your time to fully concentrate on what you are being told, to understand them and to respond to them. Ive also learnt it’s about being respectful to others. 

Empathy: 

Empathy is a vital skill all leaders will need to adopt. It is about being able to build trust, understand and inspire others.  

Collaboration: 

Collaboration skills are just as important as any other skills in leadership. Having the ability to be able to work well with others but it is also about sharing the responsibility and decision making. 

Those are just a few examples of different skills that a leader may have. Most people reading this will already have those skills, but for me, it was about learning how to develop those skills and apply them. 

Attending the leadership academy has taught me so much about the type of leader I am. I had the privilege of having our chief nursing officer for Wales Sue Tranka as my coach. It really was a dream come true. She was able to guide me and support me through my journey with the SLA. She taught me so much about myself in such a short space of time. It’s something I will never forget in my personal life and professional career. 

I had previously met Sue at another function, so was already aware of what a great leader she was, but this time, I was able to speak to her about my own leadership journey. 

Keeping in touch with Sue didn’t end there……I was also asked to attend the chief nursing officers conference in Cardiff in October 2023 as a guest speaker about my own personal journey with mental health. It was the most surreal experience that I have ever had. I was in another room full of leaders, but this time it was very experienced leaders. I got to talk in front of 300 people in the room and 150 people online. Something I would never have been able to do before the leadership academy.  

I left school with no GCSE’s above a D and worked in an office for 12 years but when my own mental health journey started 5 years ago, with the professional help and my own determination, I decided I wanted to help others who may be in the situation I was in 2019. I never in a million years imagined I would be speaking at the chief nursing officers conference just a few years later, empowering other people. 

Believe in yourself and always be open to learning.