Stop Walking on Eggshells: Confident PCN Leadership When Teams Disagree

Why PCN Leadership Can Feel Like an Impossible Balancing Act

You know that feeling when you walk into a PCN meeting and can already sense the tension in the room?

Practice A wants one approach. Practice B wants something completely different. Five out of the seven board members are often silent, and the remaining two oppose everything. The practice managers’ expressions say it all, but they still don’t give any feedback.

And there you are, whether you’re the clinical director trying to lead or the manager trying to implement, searching for a solution that keeps everyone happy.

Even when you reach consensus, you hold your breath, knowing it could unravel at any moment.

Please one practice with a decision, and two others feel overlooked.

The irony is that the harder you try to please everyone, the more frustrated they become.

What if you walk into your next PCN meeting with complete confidence?

The usual tensions are still there. Practice A still prefers their approach, Practice B has different ideas, and strong personalities continue to voice strong opinions. But this time, something feels different.

You steer the discussion with clarity, acknowledging different perspectives without getting caught up in them. You guide the group towards decisions that align with your network’s bigger purpose, and somehow, everyone feels heard.

This is what happens when healthcare leaders learn to work with complex systems rather than fight against them.

Proven Frameworks for PCN Leadership Teams

We’ve supported more than 300 primary care networks through training, interim management and facilitation. We’ve hosted over 340 episodes of The Business of Healthcare Podcast, interviewing healthcare leaders from across the system. We’ve seen first-hand what works and what doesn’t in real networks facing real challenges.

We don’t just teach this stuff, we do it. When networks bring us in for interim management or facilitation, we use these frameworks to untangle complex situations and help teams move forward.

What matters most is that our approach to leadership is not about rigid formulas. The frameworks are designed to be tailored to your needs. We always maintain the principle: take what resonates and leave what doesn’t.

The healthcare leaders who thrive in this environment have learned to see patterns where others see chaos. They understand that some conflict isn't a problem to solve, it's information to use.

They've developed frameworks for navigating stakeholder relationships systematically and strengthening their PCN leadership teams. They know the difference between someone raising legitimate concerns and someone protecting territory.

They can facilitate decisions that move networks forward even when not everyone initially agrees. Most importantly, they have learned that their role is not to eliminate tension, but to channel that energy toward better patient outcomes. The work is not easy, but it can be immensely rewarding when you have the right frameworks and support.

Your Path Forward:

Business of Healthcare Leadership Programme

If you want to walk into your next PCN meeting with complete confidence, we recommend our CPD-certified Business of Healthcare Leadership Programme. It is more than just teaching – it combines frameworks, facilitation, and reflection, covering:

1. Understanding the Changing Environment

2. Finance

3. HR basics every healthcare leader should know

4. Influencing change and integrated working

5. Governance and decision making

6. Developing Integrated Services

7. Productivity & Using AI

You'll hear what your colleagues across other networks are going through, and often find yourself providing support to them too. Because sometimes the best insights come from realising you're not the only one facing these challenges.

Secure Two Places for £1,297

The next cohort of The Business of Healthcare Leadership starts September 12th.

Reserve two spots for your leadership team to enhance learning and put insights from this course into practice for £1,297 plus VAT, covering both participants.

Reserve your spot of find out more about the programme.

Find out more: The Business of Healthcare Leadership