Transformation in Healthcare and the role of Emotional Intelligence

Leading transformation in healthcare has tremendous advantage in improving the services, patient experience and care within the National Health Service (NHS).  It also bears the scars and, has had a significant impact on staff undergoing the transformation and, in a large majority of cases, impairing their duty of care to the patients and services under their care.  

The concept of Emotional Intelligence (EI) in healthcare, although not referred to or identified as an integral part of the healthcare infrastructure, is in reality interwoven into everything that is delivered as part of a service provision.  In fact, EI is crucial throughout all levels of employees within healthcare and not just senior managers or leaders; the knowledge of EI enables individuals to understand their emotions, emotional meanings and to, reflectively regulate these emotions whilst transitioning through change initiatives and periods of significant and, sometimes, rapid transformation.