Employee feedback is reshaping leadership development at the School of Nursing
(SACRAMENTO)
Feedback from employees continues to shape how leadership development opportunities evolve across UC Davis Health. At the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing, the Staff Leadership Education and Development (LEAD) Program offers one example of how listening efforts are helping teams strengthen growth pathways while adapting programs based on real experiences.
Developed to support staff leadership skills, the LEAD Program combines workshops, mentorship and a capstone project that allows participants to apply new tools directly to their work. The initiative reflects themes frequently raised through the Employee Experience Survey and other listening efforts, including interest in professional development, stronger communication skills and support for navigating change.
The 'You Said, Together We Did' homepage archives several improvements being made in response to employee feedback.
Listening to participants, refining the experience
LEAD cohort with Dean Cavanagh at the Faculty and Staff Awards Celebration in May 2025
As cohorts progressed, organizers gathered feedback and made several updates to improve the learning journey. A dedicated change management workshop was introduced, additional time was built into strengths-based leadership sessions and the communication workshop timeline was adjusted to allow more reflection between meetings.
Building on early learnings, the upcoming cohort will introduce more structured mentorship and clearer expectations for capstone projects to better connect learning to workplace priorities.
Building confidence, practical leadership skills
Program evaluations show strong gains in leadership confidence, understanding of strengths-based leadership and communication skills among participants. Many reported feeling more prepared to lead conversations, collaborate across teams and approach challenges with greater clarity.
“I am thinking differently about the way I communicate and the way I interpret my teammates’ communications, focusing on our shared motivations and goals,” one participant shared. “This feels like a hugely positive outcome of our communication workshop and has strengthened my ability to succeed as a leader.”
Capstone projects highlight how development translates into action, with participants creating tools to strengthen collaboration, exploring new approaches to training and identifying efficiencies that support both operational workflows and patient care.
“The main boost I gained from this program was confidence,” another participant said. “Seeing specific examples of how the skills from the workshops can be applied made me feel prepared to take on additional responsibility.”
A model for listening driven development
While the LEAD Program is based within the School of Nursing, its evolution reflects a broader effort across UC Davis Health to ensure employee feedback leads to visible progress. Programs that adapt based on participant input help reinforce a culture of continuous improvement and demonstrate how listening efforts inform real change.
