Traits and characteristics of highly successful medical leaders

Medicine attracts a broad range of personality traits but the inner thoughts of its leaders have rarely been studied. The BMJ has been asking perceived leaders in the field a set of structured questions on a weekly basis. Those responses have proved insightful into the characteristic traits of high profile doctors.

We analysed the responses of each medically qualified doctor interviewed weekly by BMJ Confidential following the use of a set of structured questions about their likes and dislikes. These structured questions allowed us to cross analyse responses.

From 2013 to 2017, 134 medically qualified doctors were identified by the BMJ to be suitable for inclusion in their weekly BMJ Confidential series. These individuals were selected because they were deemed by the BMJ to be leaders in their clinical, medico-political or academic fields. Of the cohort, 91% were white and 69% male. Clinical mistakes by these individuals were not uncommon (28%) over the course of their careers. Conceit and arrogance were despised most (16%) whereas politics was of interest but not political correctness. The founder of the NHS Aneurin Bevan was identified as the best Secretary of State for Health while the worst was Andrew Lansley (26%) followed by the former health secretary Jeremy Hunt.

Medicine attracts a broad range of personalities, but the characteristics of its perceived leaders seem less diverse.