Healthcare professionals continue to debate how to address the issues of suboptimal care, neglect and abuse in healthcare settings. One solution that is likely to achieve improvements in care is the widespread development of leadership skills in front-line nurses. The behaviour of front-line nurses is a major determinant of patients’ healthcare experience and their perception of the quality of care they receive. Front-line leaders in healthcare settings such as wards, care homes and clinics are the people with the strongest and most immediate influence on staff behaviour. Therefore, nurses, ward managers and matrons are well-placed to improve organisational cultures and implement appropriate changes in their practice settings, if provided with appropriate support and training.