Programmes: Your tips

Anita on knowing your leadership style

"We are all different and bring different skills and experiences. Understand what your leadership skills are like and value them. For example, I know I adopt a very flat, non-pyramidal leadership style and love to enable people around me to thrive and achieve all they can. But remember that a variety of styles brings much-needed balance to any team of people.

People can be dismissive and form opinions about you quickly, but don’t spend a lot of time thinking about this. Instead, try to understand their point of view and then concentrate on what your experience and skills bring. Look around you and think about what enables you, what enables your peers and model this in your leadership style."

Professor Anita Simonds is an Honorary Consultant in Respiratory Sleep Medicine at Royal Brompton Hospital

Rachael on managing challenging and toxic behaviour

"We can all experience challenging and toxic behaviour at times. When faced with toxic behaviour, think about the impact of this and who is best placed to challenge. Sometimes the behaviour affects your ability to perform, and you may have the power to bring about change. You may feel you can talk to the person, and perhaps explaining how their behaviour has made you feel can help them to reflect and learn.

However, it is always OK to step back, reflect and get support to challenge the behaviour – you do not have to face this on your own. It is vital that we all lead by staying true to our own values and integrity – your integrity is yours, and no one can take that from you."

Ms Rachael Moses is a Consultant Physiotherapist 

Odiri on focusing on the positive

“Mentoring comes in so many forms, and sometimes it is the informal mentoring that brings most value.

I am lucky to have a great team of people around me, from both across the multi-professional team I work with, and in my personal life. 
We need to be kind and surround ourselves with positivity, and be one of those positive people. Seek out the people who support and champion you and build this network early in your career.

Work out what you enjoy and seek roles in those areas as that will help keep you motivated. 

Listen to the opinions of those who matter to you. Conserve your energy and pick your battles – stepping back from a challenging situation can be an active decision and will help you to focus your efforts on where you have the influence to make change. It is also important to set boundaries against behaviour that harms your wellbeing.”

Dr Odiri Eneje is the Chair of the BTS Education and Training Committee. Odiri is a Consultant at the Royal Papworth Hospital

Alison on the importance of vision

"It is important to have a vision and also have the ability to generate enthusiasm about that vision! 

To be passionate about what you believe in, and to have the ability to make that passion infectious.

Having the skills and attributes to gain the followership of others comes from having good communication skills and making decisions which are respected by others. This allows the trust and confidence in that person to build. 

Ultimately, one of the greatest characteristics of a leader is to step aside and support/allow / promote the development of those around you."

Alison Armstrong is a nurse consultant (Home Ventilation) in Newcastle. 

Abigail on role models

"The most helpful thing in navigating training for me has always been having more supportive senior role models. I have never had any formal mentoring, but have been lucky to work with inspiring female consultants in whom I can see my future self.

Informal mentoring and support has been invaluable to show me what is possible and to give me the confidence to know I can balance and enjoy family life and still have a fulfilling and successful career, the journey might just be a little bit longer."

Dr Abigail MacKintosh is a Specialist Respiratory Registrar and Chair of the BTS Speciality Trainee Advisory Group

Nazia on the need to get know to your colleagues

"Time is always a barrier in the NHS. We’re always running from one task to another, clinic to ward round and don’t even have time for a coffee or lunch. That’s always been my biggest mistake: I haven’t made enough time to sit and have coffee with my resident doctors and colleagues to really get to know them. It's probably my biggest regret as a leader, as I think the best leaders make time to really get to know people.

I think what helps is to be a little ruthless about your timetable – never book meetings in lunch breaks – always have that blanked out as not available so you can spend time with colleagues and doctors in a more informal setting."

Dr Nazia Chaudhuri is a Senior Clinical Lecturer and Honorary Respiratory Consultant in Northern Ireland.

Rachael on imposter syndrome

“People so often ask me about imposter syndrome. This is such a huge topic, and we will come back to it, but here are a few headliners. 
Imposter syndrome feels very real to a lot of people, but I am here to tell you that for the vast majority of people, it doesn’t exist.

This is a societal expectation, and it is put on people, often women or people from other under-represented groups. We are predisposed as women to think that we can’t or shouldn’t act in certain ways and take certain roles. 

We need to work together to change this narrative – you are your biggest advocate and need to be an advocate for those around you. Surround yourself with people who know your strengths and weaknesses – back yourself and each other”.

Ms Rachael Moses is a Consultant Physiotherapist 

Nicola's tips to develop your career

1. Network, ask people you admire to be mentors, and join friendly groups.
   
   
2. Be open-minded about working on projects that might not necessarily be your dream project, but teach you new skills.
   
   
3. Volunteer (people won't come looking for you, you need to look for them).
   
   
4. Don’t agree to do things you won't get any benefits out of doing.
   
   
5. Support other women on the way!
   
   
6.  Apply for things that are out of your comfort zone, even if you don’t get them, you may get feedback.
   
   
7.  Whatever you do, it doesn’t need to be perfect; it just needs to be good enough, so don’t hold on to things for too long.
   
   
8.  Make yourself known, and you need to promote yourself to be seen. It is not spoken about, but there is a lot of work behind the scenes that people don’t talk about.
   
   
9. Find a group of mentors that can support and advise you that you can trust.  
   
   
10. For those who want to be more involved in research and policy, here are lots of resources now for writing retreats (and virtual ones as well). But basically, you need to be more hands-on!
    
    
11.  For difficult times, be more aware of appropriate HR policies. Know your rights, call out bad behaviour and get support from colleagues and unions if needed – don’t let things go.
    
    
12.  And finally, make sure you look after yourself. It is not always possible to have a good work-life balance, and at the end of the day, it is only a job and a component of your life – we all need to have a good life. 

Nicola Roberts is a professor of respiratory healthcare delivery at the School of Health and Social Care, Edinburgh Napier University.