What leadership means as a core surgical competence in everyday practice

Leadership and surgical training part 1: preparing to lead the way?

Every day surgeons lead teams on the wards, in clinics and operating theatres, but most trainees and some surgeons do not consider themselves as leaders. Leadership skills are increasingly important for surgeons, who need knowledge of organizational structure and policy, management strategy and team dynamics to deliver and improve health care in resource-constrained environments. The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons recognizes leadership as one of 10 core surgical competencies but leadership curricula within surgical training programmes are not well defined. There is limited opportunity for formal leadership training and development prior to becoming a consultant.

Leadership and surgical training part 2: training toolkit for leadership development during surgical training

The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons identifies leadership as an everyday surgical skill and one of the 10 key competences expected of surgeons. However, there is limited opportunity for formal leadership training and development prior to becoming a consultant, with surgical leadership curricula within worldwide training programmes often poorly defined. As a consequence of a focus on general professional skill development, rather than specific training and assessment in leadership, observed trainee leadership skills show scope for improvement. Many studies indicate trainees report leadership skills training as beneficial and are receptive to interventions. However, most surgical leadership development courses prepare pre-identified leaders for formal leadership positions rather than developing all surgical trainees leadership skills. Although the recently established Royal Australasian College of Surgeons 'Surgeons as Leaders in Everyday Practice' course helps to fill this gap, it is aimed at consultant surgeons. Most successful leadership development programmes are also longitudinal throughout surgical training and multi-faceted.