Arataki, the Let's get real approach to leadership: Leading services
A distinct challenge
This page is part of Arataki, the Let’s get real approach to leadership, which includes resources on leading self, leading teams, and leading services. It is intended for all leaders across Aotearoa New Zealand. This page focuses on leading services and builds upon the skills developed in leading self and leading teams sections. Links to resources are provided along with reflective questions you can use when leading services so your decisions and actions can have an effective impact.
Leading a service or a system is a challenge that requires additional skills and knowledge compared to leading teams. Effective leadership at any level requires you to be grounded in your ways of being and ways of knowing. These ways evolve throughout your leadership career and can vary depending on your work/life context, your response to pressure and your focus.
Reflecting on leading services
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What do you know about where you come from, your cultural identity and values?
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How does this knowledge shape your approach to leading services and your leadership style?
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How does this knowledge influence your interactions with others in services?
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How does this knowledge inform your decisions and actions?
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How do you apply your knowledge and identity to navigate challenges within services and to work together toward shared goals?
These are topics that can be explored when accessing your supervision, mentoring or coaching sessions.
Characteristics of informed leaders
Informed leaders:
- have relevant experience
- are analytical, strategic, consistent and methodical
- understand and apply positive leadership practices
- understand complexity theory and complex adaptive systems and the application in designing and learning health services
- are financially literate
have governance skills - consider long-term consequences
- champion Māori intelligence across a broad spectrum, eg kaumātua/kuia knowledge, the arts, and practical knowledge, as well as education
- have influence and are politically astute
- possess a willingness to develop their skill sets
- are coachable spirits who can receive support, advice and feedback
- appreciate the need to develop good followership.
What skills and capabilities do you need to develop further?
Are you growing good effective ‘followers’ who have the tools and confidence to challenge the thinking of the leadership in a helpful, thoughtful and powerful way?
What actions can you be taking right now to become a more informed leader?
These are topics that can be explored when accessing your supervision, mentoring or coaching sessions.
![](https://d2ew8vb2gktr0m.cloudfront.net/images/store/_736x476_crop_center-center_none/Lets-get-real-values-cards.jpg)
Let's get real values cards
Explore how the values of Let’s get real complement organisational values. Engage health workers in values in action workshops to build a shared understanding about how values contribute to forming team culture and vision.
![](https://d2ew8vb2gktr0m.cloudfront.net/images/_736x476_crop_center-center_none/Screenshot-2024-06-11-104306.png)
Le Tautua Pasifika leadership programme
Delivered by Le Va, this provides a transformative leadership journey for Pasifika workers in the health and disability workforce over two full-day workshop sessions. The workshop explores the application of traditional values in clinical, cultural, and community settings.
![](https://d2ew8vb2gktr0m.cloudfront.net/images/_736x476_crop_center-center_none/Screenshot-2024-06-13-121208.png)
Workforce planning guide
The workforce planning guide outlines workforce planning drawing on international workforce planning literature. Use the step-by-step guide, customisable template report, and suite of practical tools to support you to create a tailored workforce development plan that aligns with strategic service goals.
![](https://d2ew8vb2gktr0m.cloudfront.net/images/_736x476_crop_center-center_none/Screenshot-2024-06-11-105505.png)
Workforce Development Outcomes Framework
Workforce Development Outcomes Framework by Te Rau Ora was developed from the input of over 2000 key stakeholders who defined their aspirations and vision for a workforce.
This framework describes Māori aspirations of workforce development and key success indicators to guide practice.
![](https://d2ew8vb2gktr0m.cloudfront.net/images/_736x476_crop_center-center_none/Screenshot-2024-06-11-105615.png)
Developing your workforce
Developing your workforce is a short yet robust guide to good practices in workforce development for mental health and addiction managers and leaders. This approach to workforce development empowers leaders to strategically shape the capacity of their workforce, positioning it to address both current and future challenges.
![](https://d2ew8vb2gktr0m.cloudfront.net/images/_736x476_crop_center-center_none/Screenshot-2024-06-11-114638.png)
Six Core Strategies service review tool
The Six Core Strategies service review tool can be used to address the challenge of reducing restrictive practices within your service through identifying key priorities and supporting ongoing quality improvement and systems change.
![](https://d2ew8vb2gktr0m.cloudfront.net/images/_736x476_crop_center-center_none/Screenshot-2024-06-13-121837.png)
Making a difference with data booklets
This suite of four booklets is designed to build leaders’ knowledge and skills around data and information. The aim is to embed basic knowledge, then develop an understanding of how and why data is valuable in everyday practice and at an organisational level.
![](https://d2ew8vb2gktr0m.cloudfront.net/images/_736x476_crop_center-center_none/supporting-parents-cover.png)
Supporting Parents Healthy Children
A guideline for workers across a range of sectors, agencies and ministries in Aotearoa New Zealand. It sets out the essential and best practice elements of service design based on the evidence of what works to support both parents and their children.
Ngā Rerenga o Te Tiriti
As described by The Treaty Resource Centre, Ngā Rerenga o Te Tiriti responds to the aspiration of groups and organisations within the community sector to be more engaged with Te Tiriti o Waitangi. It provides guidance, inspiration and sustenance to community organisations engaging with Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Select one of the leadership concepts to find a resource.