Brendan's Bio
Brendan is Head of The Susan Wakil School of Nursing and Midwifery (including Sydney Nursing School) and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health at The University of Sydney. Brendan holds various positions and titles worldwide. He is an Extraordinary Professor in the Department of Nursing at the University of Pretoria, South Africa. He is also a Professor of Nursing at Maribor University, Slovenia, a Visiting Professor at Ulster University, and an Adjunct Professor at Zealand University Hospital/University of Southern Denmark. Additionally, he serves as a Professor II at Østfold University College, Norway. Brendan is a Fellow of The European Academy of Nursing Science, the Royal College of Nursing UK, the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, and the American Academy of Nursing. He has been awarded the Sigma ‘International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame’. He is also a member of The Academia Europaea, a prestigious European scientific academy. Brendan’s research focuses on person-centredness with a focus on the development of person-centred cultures, practices and processes. He has >600 publications reflecting these research areas. Brendan has a particular focus on the use of arts and creativity in healthcare research and development and has been featured in the Wiley Publishers ‘Inspiring Minds’ short films series https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13c5C-tbcT4 in recognition of his extensive contributions to person-centred healthcare. In 2023 he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from The University of Maribor, Slovenia for his services to nursing and healthcare.
Follow Brendan on Twitter (X) here: @ProfBrendan
Listen to the episode below
Watch the episode below
Summary of our discussion
In this episode of the podcast, I spoke to Brendan McCormack and he enlightened me with his story of leadership. I broke the ice by asking Brendan what has made him smile today and he told me about the amazing work going on in the university where he was able to meet some kids between 11 and 18 who are part of a great piece of work being done on diabetes. Check out the podcast to hear all about this.
Brendan then responded to a quote I put to him on leadership. Do check into the podcast to see what this was and his initial response.
Jumping into the main part of the podcast, Brendan gave his 3 points about how to be a better leader. His first was really inspiring and was about focusing on getting the best from people. To help them flourish and show deep listening for example. We want people to do their work in a flourished state, not a compliant state. Brendan's second point was all about authenticity. He really made some interesting points on this in the podcast about understanding people and not pretending or putting on a front. His last point was really on point as a leader and was to create safe spaces for brave conversations. I won't give out any spoilers on this last part, check out the pod to hear all about it.
Brendan then told us about 2 examples of when leadership has gone well and these were firstly about his time at QMU and what he was able to learn and take with him from there as a leader to ventures new such as his current role, but also the leadership shown from the then dean of the department, who really gave Brendan an understanding of what type of leader he wanted to be. His second example was also a strong female leader in his current university who again really shines through for Brendan due to her authenticity and approachability but also her ability to be fluid in her approach.
Lastly, as Brendan's 1 leadership style, he told us about person-centred leadership, a fairly new kid to the block, but what Brendan made clear about this style is he doesn't want it to become another label but more a movement. Give the podcast a listen and you can read more about this leadership style below.
Delve into Person Centred Leadership
As mentioned before, this is a fairly new term and approach to leadership but when you listen or watch the podcast you will realise it makes total sense. This style is more about a sense of being than an act of doing and it seems that once one's values are aligned and clear, the sense of being should be evident, and then will come the acts of doing.
This is about a set or practices in one's way of thinking and acting, that then manifests into the style of leadership. It is about seeing people as just that, people, but more importantly individual persons. Brendan called this the personhood of people. It is all about relationships first then actions after. This requires and necessitates respect, compassion and the likes of empathy and understanding. Person-centred leadership needs leaders to have a self-knowing but a knowing of others also to allow them to be open, and patient and show optimism.
Vulnerability is a key aspect of this style and approach to leadership which ties into the likes of openness, honesty, authenticity and respect. Showing vulnerability will then grant the leader to be in receipt of these characteristics from the people they lead in return.
Further reading on Person Centred Leadership
Websites:
Open access articles:
Footnotes
Why not take this fun personality test to find out your personality? Check it out here:
And also why not find out your leadership style based on a questionnaire? Try it here:
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