Redefining leadership within the NHS’ complex adaptive system

Abstract

The NHS is continuously evolving and with it, traditional notions of leadership and management must be reimagined and redefined. In order to be effective leaders, however, we must first gain a deeper understanding of the context in which we lead and recognise how to navigate the system's intricacies. This article explores the characteristics of Complex Adaptive Systems and how we can understand the patterns of these systems through our experiences leading in the NHS. It then analyses leadership approaches both past and present and considers how future leaders can be effective in tomorrow's NHS. Finally, this article identifies potential barriers and challenges that leaders must overcome as they adapt and tailor their leadership approach to meet the needs of a dynamic health service.

Keywords

• Healthcare leadership
• Complex adaptive systems
• Complexity leadership theory
• Leadership development
• Systems leadership