Co-active leadership is reshaping how people see themselves, their teams, and the systems they work within, and nowhere is this more evident than at St George’s. The programme’s impact becomes clear the moment you hear Steven’s story. His reflection stopped the room:

“This programme helped me see myself differently as a leader, more reflective, more compassionate, more confident.”

It wasn’t a comment about technique or management. It was about human energy. Connection. The courage to lead differently.
Steven’s full story can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/-EWPWyXXjRM

This is the heart of how transformation begins: not with frameworks, but with people.

The Human Story Behind Co-Active Leadership at St George’s

Steven’s experience is one of many emerging from St George’s Clinical Leaders Programme. When leaders reconnect with their purpose, when they feel seen, valued and supported, the shift is immediate. People talk more openly. Teams breathe again. Confidence rises.

Real stories like Steven’s anchor the programme in lived experience, making co-active leadership something people feel, not just learn.

Why Leadership Matters in Today’s NHS

St George’s made a bold commitment: to invest in compassionate, inclusive leadership as a core part of delivering safe, high-quality care. In the words of the foreword by Julie Goldie:

“Care quality

 follows leadership quality.”

Under extraordinary operational pressure, including strikes, staffing shortages and surges in demand, the programme still achieved:

• 180 staff completing the programme across eight cohorts

• 100% of participants reporting sessions met their needs

• Engagement and attendance above 85%, even during system strain

These numbers matter. They signal a workforce finding renewed purpose and connection.

How Co-Active Leadership Creates Behaviour Change

ICE’s co-active, behaviour change leadership model is intentionally different. Not to teach people what to do. It evokes who they are when they lead well.

This works across three interconnected systems:

1. Personal System

Growing self-awareness, emotional intelligence, grounding and resilience. Leaders explore:

• Where do I get energy from?

• What drains me?

• How do I show up under pressure?

2. Team System

Building psychological safety, empathy, curiosity and shared accountability. Leaders practise:

• Creating space

• Listening deeply

• Inviting diverse voices

• Shifting from control to co-creation

3. System System

Developing strategic thinking, political astuteness and the confidence to influence beyond boundaries.
This is where leadership becomes an act of system stewardship, not just role performance.

Each system unlocks the next.

Leaders lead themselves differently, teams change.

Teams change, systems shift.

For readers wanting to explore the wider leadership and systems work ICE delivers, visit behaviour change leadership!

Evidence of Impact From St George’s Leadership Programme

The evaluation demonstrates both measurable and felt impact:

• 13% increase in continuous learning and innovation

• 10% increase in leaders’ ability to build cohesive, effective teams

• 7–10% growth in compassion, inclusion and valuing diversity

• Strong improvements in role clarity, confidence and relational leadership

Real change also happened at project level:

• Improved patient information systems

• Reduced “Did Not Attend” rates

• Better staff wellbeing

• Shorter pathways and smoother multidisciplinary coordination

Participant voices tell the story best:
“It was phenomenal, different to any other course. I’ve ever done.”
“The programme shifts your mindset completely. I’m a better leader.”
“We’ve formalised how we learn from outcomes. It’s changing how we lead.”

Financially, even conservative projections indicate growing potential savings through retention, reduced sickness and higher-impact improvement work.
But every leader agrees: the real value is the renewed spark, hope and humanity.

Leadership Energy in Action: Stories of Real Change

The programme created a movement of small, human decisions with big ripple effects.

• Steven discovered leadership as an act of care and self-reflection.

• Dalisay protected team breaks so staff could decompress, reconnect and return clearer.

• Wandai learned to pause before acting, asking better questions that opened new perspectives.

• Carolyn shifted her team’s culture through kindness, boundaries and clarity.

These aren’t abstract leadership ideas. They’re real transformations happening in real moments, in corridors, in clinics, in meetings, and in conversations that change everything.

From Programme to Movement: The Future of Co-Active Leadership

What’s happening at St George’s is bigger than a programme. It’s cultural renewal.

Leaders find their spark, they light up their teams.
Teams connect, systems begin to heal.

St George’s is demonstrating that co-active leadership isn’t an initiative; it’s a way of being that spreads through a system.

This is leadership that invites bravery. Compassion. Curiosity. Presence.
And presence is contagious.

If your organisation wants to explore how co-active, behaviour change leadership can create a similar transformation, ICE would love to listen, learn and co-create with you.

Explore More of ICE’s Work

• Organisational Development & Leadership
  https://www.icecreates.com/our-services/organisational-development 

• From Fragmented Systems to Neighbourhood Solutions
  https://icecreates.com/our-work/from-fragmented-systems-to-neighbourhood-solutions/

• StopForLife App (External)
  https://stopforlifeapp.com

• Best-You Behaviour Change Platform (External)
  https://best-you.org

 Work With Us

If you’d like to explore how ICE can support leadership, culture or system transformation in your organisation, get in touch — we’d love to collaborate.