Fiona Day Consulting - Transforming Health Leadership

14/01/2026

As medical and public health leaders, you’re expected to lead people through increasing complexity, pressure and change - often without any formal training in how to lead conversations that truly support, motivate and develop others.

That’s where coaching skills make a critical difference and are becoming an essential leadership capability for senior doctors and public health specialists.

My EMCC-accredited Coaching Skills for Medical & Public Health Leaders programme supports health leaders to move from problem-solvers to capability-builders - without losing pace or standards.

I also outline:
• What coaching skills look like in real clinical and public health leadership
• How leaders are using them in appraisal, supervision and system work
• Feedback from a UK public health leader who completed the course
• Who the programme is designed for, and what participants gain

👉 Click here to learn more about the programme : https://fionadayconsulting.co.uk/coaching-skills-every-medical-public-health-specialist-needs-now/

If you’re looking to strengthen your leadership impact while staying true to your professional values, this may be a helpful next step.

EMCC-accredited coaching skills course for medical and public health specialists. Build leadership confidence, coaching capability and impact with Dr Fiona Day.

07/01/2026

I’m always delighted when leaders share reflections from our work together. This message came from a National Public Health Leader within the NHS, navigating a particularly demanding transition:

“Very professional coach. Sympathetic but challenging and gives homework to help progress between times. Kept me afloat during a very challenging period which I am proud to have come through without too many scars. A better transition than the last couple. Honest and with a wide range of tools to offer. Understands the Public Health world.”

Coaching during periods of pressure and uncertainty is often where the most meaningful work takes place - supporting leaders to stay steady, feel resourced, and move through complexity with clarity.

For more resources to support you with your medical or public health leadership career, visit https://fionadayconsulting.co.uk/

10/12/2025

It’s always a privilege to support senior health leaders through moments of transition and growth. I received this message recently from a Senior Medical Public Health Leader at the World Health Organisation:

“I was very pleased with the work done by Fiona during our coaching sessions. She really helped me to understand how employable I actually was. She was very empathic and demonstrated both an excellent knowledge of the feelings and psychological pressure we sometimes go through and how to put things into perspective by looking at the real-world. The exercises we did to simulate job interviews and the analysis she did were great to equip me with tangible tools in the near future.”

Coaching sits at the intersection of clarity, confidence, and perspective. Helping health leaders reconnect with their strengths and navigate pressure with greater ease is at the heart of my work.

For more resources to support you with your medical or public health leadership career, visit https://fionadayconsulting.co.uk/

03/12/2025

This week, I’m in conversation with Dr Imran Ahmad, a GP board partner, training programme director, and clinical lead working at the heart of primary care transformation in London.

We explore how Imran has evolved from traditional general practice into strategic leadership, how he balances clinical work with board responsibilities, and what he’s learned about adapting leadership styles in complex systems.

He shares thoughtful reflections on letting go of comfort zones, developing emotional intelligence, building trust through delegation, and creating psychologically safe teams where people can truly grow.

It’s an inspiring reminder that leadership starts with curiosity and self-reflection, not with titles or job roles.

🎧 Listen on your favourite podcast platform or at fionadayconsulting.co.uk/podcast

For more resources to support you with your medical or public health leadership career, visit https://fionadayconsulting.co.uk/

26/11/2025

I’m always grateful when clients share their experiences of our work together.

This one was sent to me recently by a Consultant in Health Protection, based in London

“Thank you for your guidance over the last couple of years. I’ve finally secured a permanent post - after lots of uncertainty! It was very reassuring to me to know you were available to talk things through and break down my problem into tangle steps. You also gave me space to feel how annoyed I was feeling - which helped me progress to doing something constructive!”

Supporting leaders through periods of uncertainty is often where the deepest work happens - giving space to feel, to think, and to move forward with clarity.

If you’re navigating a transition or exploring your next step, you don’t have to do it alone.

For more resources to support you with your medical or public health leadership career, visit https://fionadayconsulting.co.uk/

24/11/2025

I’m pleased to share that my fourth peer-reviewed article has just been published in BMJ Leader:

“𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗰𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗱𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗼𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀?”

This scoping review analysed 94 publications to map what we currently know about leadership coaching for doctors.

Key insights include:

• Coaching is increasingly requested and valued in medical leadership development.
• Many studies still blur the line between coaching and mentoring, signalling a need for clearer definitions.
• Only a small number of interventions used accredited coaches, highlighting an important area for future work.
• Overall, the literature is positive - but research design and outcome measurement need strengthening.

The aim of this paper is to support researchers, educators, and health system leaders to make more informed, evidence-based decisions about how coaching is designed and delivered for doctors.

My other BMJ Leader publications are available on my website for anyone interested in the wider evidence base. https://fionadayconsulting.co.uk/services/bmj-leader-coaching-evidence-doctors-medical-public-health-leaders/

If you’d like the full paper, feel free to get in touch.

For more resources to support you with your medical or public health leadership career, visit https://fionadayconsulting.co.uk/

19/11/2025

🎧 New Episode: The Language of Coaching - Insights from Professor Eva-Maria Graf

What really makes coaching effective?

In this fascinating conversation, I speak with Professor Eva-Maria Graf - Associate Professor in Applied Linguistics and founder of Linguistic Coaching Process Research - about the science behind how coaches and clients communicate.

We explore:

- What happens linguistically inside a coaching conversation
- Why 83% of coaching sessions are built around questioning sequences
- How understanding the language of coaching can deepen your impact as a leader and coach

Eva’s pioneering research bridges linguistics, psychology, and coaching to reveal what truly drives transformation in dialogue.

Listen to the full episode of Transformational Thinking for Health Leaders wherever you get your podcasts, or at https://podcast.fionadayconsulting.co.uk

For more resources to support you with your medical or public health leadership career, visit https://fionadayconsulting.co.uk/

12/11/2025

Deciding to embark on specialist medical career counselling can feel daunting - especially when you’re feeling stuck and uncertain about the next step.

I’m glad to have supported this Consultant Anaesthetist and Medical Educator from the South of England as they explored what truly motivates and fulfils them in their professional life.

“Fiona was kind and guided me through a structured approach to uncover what really makes me tick in a professional environment and eventually to what I am really looking for in a career. I am leaving the other side excited about the next stage in my career and confident to start searching and applying for the jobs I know I want.”

Helping senior doctors rediscover clarity, confidence, and purpose in their careers is some of the most rewarding work I do.

For more resources to support you with your medical or public health leadership career, visit https://fionadayconsulting.co.uk/

05/11/2025

🎙️ New Episode: Creativity, Courage and Leadership with Dr Phil Sherrard

What happens when a consultant anaesthetist takes to the stage?

In this deeply human conversation, Dr Phil Sherrard shares his journey from the operating theatre to the theatre stage - and how reconnecting with his love of acting has transformed the way he leads, teaches, and lives.

We talk about:

- Finding purpose through creativity
- Building a sustainable, values-based career in medicine
- Overcoming anxiety and rediscovering confidence
- The future of digital medical education
- Why leadership begins with honesty, kindness and adventure

It’s a rich and inspiring episode for anyone navigating a complex, multi-passionate career in healthcare.

🎧 Listen now - https://podcast.fionadayconsulting.co.uk

For more resources to support you with your medical or public health leadership career, visit https://fionadayconsulting.co.uk/

29/10/2025

It’s always wonderful to hear how coaching can ripple through every part of a leader’s life - both personally and professionally.

“𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘰𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘍𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦. 𝘖𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘢𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦-𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝟥𝟨𝟢-𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘘𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘢𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘥. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘐 𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘵𝘩𝘴, 𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘺 𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘵𝘩, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘱 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘳 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘴. 𝘍𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢’𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳.”

What I love about this story is how coaching becomes a strategic tool - not only for personal growth, but also for nurturing a culture of continuous learning and improvement within organisations.

If you’re ready to explore your own leadership potential, I’d love to guide you through the 360-Transformational Leadership process.

For more resources to support you with your medical or public health leadership career, visit https://fionadayconsulting.co.uk/

22/10/2025

𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲. 𝗖𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆. 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.

In my latest Transformational Thinking for Health Leaders episode, I speak with Professor Laurie Tomlinson, NIHR Research Professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine - whose journey from nephrology to national research leadership shows what happens when you stop trying to fit the mould and start trusting your instincts.

Laurie’s story is one of courage, self-belief, and intellectual bravery - from walking away from a “secure” consultant post to taking on the medical establishment when the evidence demanded it.

It’s a powerful reminder that purpose often lies beyond the safe and predictable path.

🎧 Listen to the full conversation on Transformational Thinking for Health Leaders wherever you get your podcasts.

For more resources to support you with your medical or public health leadership career, visit https://fionadayconsulting.co.uk/

15/10/2025

💬 "𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗺𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸-𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗙𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗵𝘂𝗴𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹. 𝗦𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵. 𝗜 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗲𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗵𝗲𝗿."
- Senior Consultant Physician, London

So many clinicians reach a point where the balance between professional dedication and personal wellbeing starts to slip.

When space is finally created to talk - honestly, without judgement - something begins to shift.

For this consultant, the conversation itself became a turning point: a chance to see their challenges not as personal failings, but as signals for renewal and realignment.

If you’re a doctor or healthcare leader quietly asking “what about me?” - it’s never too late to start the conversation.

𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲.

For more resources to support you with your medical or public health leadership career, visit https://fionadayconsulting.co.uk/