ABSTRACT
Many of the commentators arguing the case for enhanced medical leadership have considerable expertise in the shaping and delivery of health services at a strategic and operational level, the majority do not have particular academic expertise in the study of the concept of leadership itself. The Medical Leadership Competency Framework is built on the concept of shared leadership where leadership is not restricted to people who hold designated leadership roles, and where there is a shared sense of responsibility for the success of the organisation and its services. Positional leadership roles are those that individuals take on within the formal structure of their organisation. Over the past decade there has been a steady growth in the number of designated medical leadership roles. Self-leadership is at the heart of shared leadership. Shared leadership is a more modern conception of leadership that departs from the traditional charismatic or hierarchical models.
