Enhancing Non-Technical Competencies in Otolaryngology Trainees With a Novel Leadership Curriculum

Leadership skills are essential for physicians, yet surgical training often lacks structured education in leadership development. Otolaryngology-head and neck surgery (OHNS) residents frequently navigate multidisciplinary interactions, high-pressure decision-making, and complex team dynamics, highlighting the need for targeted leadership development. To address this gap, we developed and evaluated a needs-based leadership curriculum for OHNS residents.

Three sessions were offered to OHNS residents covering: (1) understanding personal leadership style, (2) navigating difficult conversations, and (3) public speaking. All sessions were led by content experts. Pre- and post-session surveys assessed the effectiveness of each session using a five-point Likert scale (1 = strongly disagree; 5 = strongly agree). Wilcoxon rank tests compared pre- and post-session survey data.

Ninety-six percent of residents participated in at least one session. Survey data demonstrated significant improvements across multiple areas. Participants reported increased comfort in adapting leadership styles (pre: 3.28; post: 4.52, p < 0.0001), better understanding of diverse communication preferences (pre: 3.81; post: 4.24, p < 0.033), and improved comfort in initiating difficult conversations (pre: 2.88; post: 3.81, p < 0.045). Across all sessions, over 90% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that each session was a good use of their time and valuable to their future practice.

This novel leadership curriculum enhanced participants' abilities to adapt leadership styles, understand diverse communication preferences, and navigate difficult conversations. Integrating leadership development into residency addresses a notable gap in traditional surgical training.