Interprofessional Leadership Development: Role of Emotional Intelligence and Communication Skills Training

Area of Science:

• Health Professions Education
• Interprofessional Healthcare
• Leadership Development

Background:

• Emotional intelligence and communication are vital for interprofessional healthcare teams, yet often neglected in medical training.
• Effective leadership in healthcare requires strong interpersonal skills for professionalism, patient trust, and optimal care.
• Interprofessional collaboration enhances patient outcomes and team dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To implement and evaluate a workshop designed to enhance emotional intelligence and communication skills among interprofessional trainees.
• To assess the impact of targeted training on trainees' self-reported confidence and preparedness in leadership and teamwork.
• To explore the benefits of an interprofessional approach in health professions leadership education.

Main Methods:

• A 2.5-hour workshop was delivered to interprofessional trainees (residents, medical students, pharmacy, physician assistant, and health psychology students).
• The workshop included self-assessment of emotional intelligence and communication styles, a didactic presentation, and a teamwork application activity.
• Forty-four trainees participated in the workshop, with evaluations collected post-intervention.

Main Results:

• Participants reported increased knowledge of communication strategies and greater comfort in fostering positive team dynamics.
• Trainees felt better prepared to encourage leadership within their interprofessional teams.
• Internal medicine residents reported higher mean ratings in knowledge attainment (p = .02) and meeting learner needs (p = .01) compared to other groups.

Conclusions:

• The workshop successfully enhanced trainees' self-reported comfort, awareness, and preparedness in utilizing emotional intelligence and communication strategies.
• An interprofessional educational model is effective for developing leadership competencies in healthcare professionals.
• Improving these skills is essential for building professionalism and ensuring high-quality patient care.