Preparing for the future: challenges and opportunities for management and leadership skills

Objective The aim of the study was to explore dental leaders' perceptions of the current position of leadership in the dental profession. Design A qualitative, key informant, exploratory research study was used with semi-structured interviews as the means of data collection. Materials and methods Participants were invited based on their role in dental services in the UK and their ability to act as a key informant. Thirteen participants were secured and interviewed either at their workplace or in a University setting. Each interview lasted between 45 and 60 minutes. Results The findings show that while recognising that a lack of focus on leadership skills has caused problems in the past, current dental leaders are prepared to lead the profession forward.…