Accidental Leadership - Where Time Is Tight, But So Is Your Capacity

Many clinicians, innovative thinkers, and deeply capable humans never set out in healthcare to lead. We loved the clinical work. We followed a curiosity. We built something because it seemed no one else would. We were asked to step up into managerial positions for our depth of knowledge not because we wanted the promotion. And suddenly — without planning for it — we became the person others rely on. The one who is supposed to have all these magical answers without having any more information.

This is accidental leadership. And it often comes with feeling overly responsible and chronically under supported.

Our clinical skills still matter, but now we’re also navigating people, emotions, systems, and decisions that no one trained us for and are at times too big for any one human. It’s no wonder our brains sometimes feel like a tangled ball of yarn — too many threads, too many colours, too many knots. For many accidental leaders, the tangled yarn metaphor fits perfectly. Some knots are simple. Some are infuriating. Some you’ve loosened for hours only for someone else to walk by and free in seconds. (They best not be taking all the credit for it too).

We’re more than capable of working it out independently. We always have. (It’s those very skills people recognised as leadership material.) But just because we can doesn’t mean we should have to. And it shouldn’t take up our precious time or add to the mounting emotional labour. So much of humaning doesn’t make sense. There’s no rule book. No algorithm that understands the complexity of our experiences in front line healthcare - our services, our patients, or our values.

That’s the power of Peer Support Networks — someone who lives in the same emotional and professional terrain. Someone who “gets it” from the get go. We’ve all had that experience of trying to explain your work context to a spouse or friend, only to have them not quite gauge the gravity. We end up feeling less seen and understood. Our peers are simply better positioned to detangle with us — faster, cleaner, and with far less of the emotional cost on us.

In a world where time feels like it’s evaporating, carving out 30 minutes can feel impossible. But those 30 minutes might save us two hours of circling the same mental drain. Sometimes naming it is enough to tame it. We allow each other the capacity to take a small step away, breathe, and figure out our next move with clarity. This is why we are starting Lunch-time Leadership check-ins. Just 30mins to welfare check, gather and connect with like-minded peers.  It pokes a tiny hole in a very full bucket — and that’s enough to breathe again. We’d love for you to join us this Thursday 28th May at 12pm - jump down to the wellbeing check-in, fill in this form and receive the invite link.

PS: there's no cost involved so there's little excuse not to pop by and say hello!