LOCSU LEADERSHIP AND TRAINING SUPPORT

Last March, I undertook the Leadership Skills for Optical Professionals course at Cardiff University, funded by the Local Optical Committee Support Unit (LOCSU). I applied after completing the LOCSU induction course and developing an interest in how to make the Walsall Local Optical Committee (LOC) more effective. LOCSU had 10 places available, and I was awarded one of these.

Developing relationships

The course improved my interpersonal and leadership skills, and has facilitated closer working relationships with staff. I gained clarity on people’s roles and now understand the qualities of good leadership. I have since been able to work with others more effectively. I have found myself analysing the workplace from a different viewpoint: what type of leadership am I seeing? Is this an effective environment and does the team feel valued?

I developed a closeness with the leadership cohort through interactions online and contact days. The instructors were knowledgeable, friendly, and helpful. Meeting in person over two days in London was my favourite aspect. Sessions involved workshops and team building exercises. Following this, I knew I was moving towards being the type of leader I wanted to be.

We still talk on WhatsApp, celebrating our achievements and pushing each other to progress. I am grateful to have this acceptance and support from colleagues within the profession.

Improving confidence

I could not recommend the course enough. It helped me gain selfconfidence and develop understanding of my working environments and the positions within them. The leadership content enables you to view things from different perspectives. You learn about leadership styles, influencing, and persuasion techniques.

The course required weekly blogs and a final essay, improving my writing skills. Before this, I had not undertaken any formal writing since university. The blogs allowed me to reflect on my leadership style in a non-judgemental way, to determine what was going well and where improvements could be made. They helped me focus on where I wanted my career to progress. As a result, I have learnt to seize new opportunities.

As optometrists, our roles are constantly evolving and expanding, and self-directed lifelong learning is important to keep our knowledge and skills up to date. The course has allowed me to discover and address gaps in my knowledge.

I am motivated to continue to learn and improve my practice. I am now enrolled on a glaucoma postgraduate module at Aston University.

Benefit for the LOC

Our LOC is more effective with participation from all members. As part of my final essay, I set up a team building activity, which acted as a vehicle for conversations about our strengths as individuals and as a team, helping us achieve our desired outcome of increased engagement and active participation among all committee members. We are far more effective and proactive now.

I have since progressed within my LOC, becoming its continuing professional development officer. I also gained employment at Aston University as a clinical research optometrist. A lot has changed in the past 12 months. I learned a lot from the course. I would urge others to consider leadership skills training.

Professor Ed Mallen tells OT why bell ringing is his form of meditation