Beyond the Scalpel: Unpacking the Difference Between Good Surgeons and Good Leaders

Abstract

What makes us good surgeons does not always translate into making us good leaders. We practice in controlled environments as anointed leaders surrounded by task competence. In the operating room, surgeon reward comes through quick, decisive decisions. Our healthcare environment encourages productivity and task competence. Good leadership is about influence through transparency, compromise, collaboration, and listening, all while working to make yourself the least important person in the room.