Are leaders born or made? This book aims to show that the answer is somewhere
in the middle: certain leadership skills are innate whereas others can be learned.
Multiple skills and factors make a successful clinical leader who is capable of doing
the best for their patients and of making the most of the available resources.

The psychiatric profession must ensure that its next generation of leaders has the
appropriate skills mix and is fully aware of both theoretical and practical aspects
of leadership. The future will bring new challenges for clinicians and clinical
leaders, including the impact of globalization and urbanization, new technologies,
health becoming a commodity and competing demands for shrinking resources.
Developing leadership skills and leaders is critical in order to optimise the use of
resources, their application, service planning and delivery of services which the
patients and their families will use.

This is the first book on leadership (rather than management skills) in the medical
profession to focus specifically on psychiatry and mental health care. Contributions
from international experts with clinical and non-clinical backgrounds pull together
the theories and practical skills required to be a successful leader. The aim is to
guide mental health professionals in general and psychiatrists in particular on how
to gain the relevant skills and on how to utilise these skills and training to take on
leadership roles in clinical and organisational settings.

The book covers the role of the leader and the skills required for leadership,
including chapters on communication, decision-making, team development,
mentoring, gender issues in leadership, burnout and more. A section on assessment
tools and learning material is also included.

Edited by acknowledged leaders in psychiatry who are the current and future
Presidents of the World Psychiatric Association, this book is essential reading for
all those who aspire to lead in psychiatry