Reception team leader in the Group Patient Access and Administration service Anna Wynn is much happier in her role after completing the NCA’s Front Line Leadership and Management Apprenticeship.
The course provides leaders in their first line management role with the practical knowledge, abilities, and confidence to become an effective and inclusive leader. Here Anna blogs about her experiences and what she has brought back to her team.
“Juggling a full-time role alongside completing my apprenticeship has been a journey. Planning my time around my day-to-day tasks, to do lists, the wish I could do lists, leading a team of 40 plus, service pressures, annual leave, a positive COVID test or two and being in higher education again after ten years, it all felt like I was dusting off a part of my brain that I never thought I’d need or want to use again. I won’t lie, it has been a challenge, but you don’t get anywhere in life by taking the easy road.
“Before we go any further, I should tell you I am dyslexic, which puts a different spin on my story. My higher education background is in art and photography and being dyslexic always used to put me at an advantage because I see the world differently. However, as soon as you’re out of that environment, it can sometimes leave you feeling stupid and different to others. My tutor, Tamsin has helped me to feel understood, listened to and most importantly, not stupid! Tamsin has taken the time to understand how my brain works, which I’m sure was an arduous task but once we figured it out, my learning journey changed speed and direction, all the bits of the jigsaw felt like they were coming together. I am often embarrassed to ask for alternative help because my peers around me would not need the same help. Tamsin offered 1:1’s, catch up sessions, she would check in on me if she knew I’d found the task of juggling everything to be overwhelming, she would send presentation slides to me before sessions so I could make notes, remind me I’m not stupid when I don’t understand something the first time round and most importantly, and was extremely patient with me.
“During the first taught session of the apprenticeship, we discussed imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is described as the persistent inability to believe that your success is deserved or has been legitimately achieved as a result of your own efforts or skills – This was me. I would walk around the corridors of the hospital waiting for someone to tap me on the back and say, ‘the jig is up Anna’! We know your secret and we’ve realised you’re terrible at your job and it’s time to go. Now I must stress that no one has ever actually given me reason to think this but when you look at yourself, you realise that even though you’re a tiny cog in this gargantuan beautiful machine we call the NHS, you realise how important your job is, however small, and your brain can sometimes say, little old me? I don’t think so! You doubt everything you do, even though deep down you know it’s right and in truth, it’s exhausting especially if you consider you are at work more than you are at home.
“Throughout the apprenticeship we are asked to gain constructive feedback from colleagues, peers, and the team we manage. Most, if not all my feedback was positive but the act of asking for feedback was new to me. I have brought this back to my team and the culture of the team has changed. We are less reactive and more reflective. Previously we would make a lot of decisions in the moment but now we take the time to reflect on what may have happened, what we should do, and what we could have done differently. I am very proud to say that I am promoting a culture of inclusivity in my team. This change of culture builds morals which means the team are happier in work and therefore our patients are getting the best experience. The imposter syndrome is still with me when I walk around but it is very much in the background and some days is totally silent. I am happier in my role, which makes me happier in work which means I will continue the legacy of working at Salford Royal that my mum, Barbara Bayliss started over 50 years ago.
“On my last day of university, my tutor Alan Peacock asked me to make him a promise, to never stop learning and I’m really, really glad I kept my promise."