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Coaching and leadership development support for GPs

A 2016 Kings Fund report suggested that general practice was in trouble. More recently, a GMC report noted that GPs report higher levels of work intensity and burnout than other doctors in the UK. Although some support is available, it feels like it’s too little, too late. We need to take steps to find support for ourselves. Coaching is one such tool. The research base underlying coaching has been building in recent years. Research suggests that it can be helpful for leadership development, goal setting and attainment. Resilience, improved well-being and reduced burnout may also be some of the benefits.

Whilst coaching is not going to fix all of the cracks in the system, it is my belief that we should use all available tools to help us.

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Coaching can help you clarify values, create focus and open opportunities to define realistic goals

We lean on family, friends and colleagues to one degree or another. This has its problems. Apart from the fact that it can place tensions on those relationships, people can be tempted to offer unhelpful advice.

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About Vicky

I have worked in a mix of GP settings from city to remote and rural and still enjoy clinical work. I came across coaching over a decade ago and started to use it periodically when I had projects that I wanted to move forwards. I decided that it was something that I wanted to do and trained as a coach from 2019 to 2020. I am accredited with the EMCC and a member of the ICF.

I subsequently became more interested in the evidence base behind coaching and began a MSc in business psychology with coaching in 2022 at Heriot Watt University. The program included studying organisational culture, the psychology of leadership, diversity, and intercultural communication in addition to a deep-dive into the evidence underpinning coaching. A substantial amount of the research I did along the way was specific to healthcare organisations.

As part of the MSc I am currently researching GPs attitudes towards coaching.

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My approach

My approach is informal and supportive. Sessions are largely non-directive and despite heavy topics, are often fun and uplifting.