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.