Developing Effective Leaders in Ambulance Services Ambulance Leadership Forum 22 nd May 2013

Overview Brief overview of leadership theory and research (and a comment on social support). Re-awakening of interest in (specific) leader / manager behaviour. Evidence from ongoing research Brief look at interventions: SMBI and SBT Further information and close

Theories & Approaches Trait Behavioural Situational (contingency) Holistic or ‘new wave’ approaches Leader-Follower Transactional – transformational Authentic leadership Supported by research on value of social support

Leadership & Management Same or different? Some say ‘different’ but... Leadership roles are underpinned by management behaviour (e.g. motivating and supporting employees) Managers are frequently required to lead (e.g. to instill a sense of collective identity and shared direction amongst employees).

Definition A leader is someone who uses various behaviours and interaction styles to influence the thoughts and actions of others. (Sims, S., Faraj, P. & Yun, S. 2009, Business Horizons, 52, pages )

Relationship –Oriented Behaviour Behavioural theories Consideration Leader-Member Exchange (LMX) Mutual respect, interpersonal trust, information sharing and opportunities for joint decision making Transformational leadership Individualized consideration’ (delegation) Intellectual stimulation’ (freedom of thinking) Inspirational motivation’ (encouragement) Idealized influence (sharing success) Positive relationship linked with increased employee job satisfaction and organizational commitment, lower work stress and turnover intentions, greater perceived organizational justice and improved task performance

Emerging Focus Identifying key leader / manager behaviours and designing organisational systems and processes to take account of them (e.g. selection, training and appraisal).

Evidence Two Trust-based well-being audits (454 and 633 participants) National project focusing on hazardous situations (e.g. HART, MTFA) (486 participants)

Specific Behaviours SUPPORTIVE UNSUPPORTIVE 1.Listens 7. Criticizes effort / performance 2. Recognises a job well done 8. Quick to blame others 3. Makes clear what is expected 9. Sets contradictory goals 4. Shows interest in well-being 5. Makes herself / himself available 6. Encourages your point of view Which behaviour predicts ‘perceived fairness’, ‘climate for innovation and creativity’, ‘proactive safety culture’ and ‘withdrawal from patients’?

Impact Perceived Fairness Recognition Quick to blame (-ve) Criticizing effort (-ve) Innovation & Creativity As above plus contradictory goals (-ve), clear expectations & encouraged to put across own point of view Safety culture As perceived fairness plus clear expectations Burnout related withdrawal Contradictory goals (-ve) Encouraged to put across own point of view Availability

Specific Behaviours SUPPORTIVE UNSUPPORTIVE Listens Criticizes your effort Recognises a job well done Quick to blame others Treats staff fairly Sets unrealistic expectations Makes clear what is expected Sets contradictory goals Demonstrates interest in well-being ‘Tells’ rather than listens Makes themselves available Encourages your point of view Willing to learn from others Actively encourages working together Which behaviours predict capability, work engagement, well-being & resilience? ?

Impact Capability Encouraged to put across own point of view Actively encouraged to work together Demonstrates interest in well-being Engagement As above plus recognition of a job well done Well-being Clear expectations Contradictory goals (-ve) Willingness to learn Encouraging working together Telling rather than listening (-ve) Resilience Being available Encouraging working together

Application SMBI (Supportive Manager Behaviour Index) Development of psychometric instrument 360 assessment SBT Experiential Evidence based Problem-solving emphasis Realistic - real world scenarios Robust evaluation

Scenario Based Training To increase awareness and importance of everyday manager behaviour To allow managers to reflect on their own manager behaviour –To see/consider how supportive manager behaviour manifests/applies in specific situations –To reinforce supportive behaviour –To look for opportunities to demonstrate supportive manager behaviour To allow managers to develop a plan to action supportive behaviour in their own work situations

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