Article Discusses Importance of Leadership among Surgeons, Presents Skills

Healthcare risk managers may be interested in an article published in the May 2012 Bulletin of the American College of Surgeons, which presents basic leadership skills intended to optimize surgeons’ nontechnical performance in the operating room (OR) environment. The article emphasizes the importance of surgeons knowing their own strengths and weaknesses and examines various leadership styles, including authoritative, coaching, affiliative, democratic, pacesetting, and commanding. Fundamental leadership skills discussed include listening, sharing information, and fostering esprit de corps.