ABSTRACT
General practitioners' (GPs) and practice managers' recollections of the experiences they felt had made them better managers were often drawn from their own work experience: through observing people they deemed to be effective managers; through 'being dropped in at the deep end'. Workshop participants were asked to work up in groups, specifications for desired management development or education experiences. GPs in particular often confessed that 'we don't know what it is that we need to know', and emphasized their need for a management development diagnostic facility or service. A number of quite visionary female practice managers were still hesitant to express their vision within the practice. Those practice managers who have entered practice management from established careers outside could also be encouraged to become mentors. Providers need to keep in mind the different needs of practice managers and GPs at different stages of their managerial development.
