Identifying general surgery trainees’ perception of leadership, leadership needs, and development of a leadership curriculum

A diverse list of leadership competencies, characteristics, and approaches to training were noted as important by general surgery residents. Observational learning, modeling, and emulation are the current modus operandi of leadership training in surgical residency. Consequently, to train residents to be effective leaders, it is imperative that faculty and staff undergo leadership development as well. Structured feedback given to residents and faculty on their leadership skills is essential to this process. Regardless of the leadership training method used, residents preferred a tailored, individualized, and longitudinal learning experience.