Follow the leader: followership and its relevance for surgeons

What leadership means as a core surgical competence in everyday practice

“…Every surgeon has a preferred leadership style, and the more successful and effective leaders are able to adjust the style they use according to the circumstances. Another good leadership trait of surgeons is their ability to know when to become a follower, as the ability to be a good follower prepares one for leadership as well as being an important behaviour of good leaders within functional surgical teams.…”

“…A surgical leader is someone who can create the right environment for the people with whom they work, to ensure that together they get the best team performance and patient outcomes . Leadership involves establishing a clear vision, sharing that vision with others so that they are supportive and follow willingly, providing the information, knowledge and methods that are needed to realize that vision, while coordinating and balancing conflicting interests between members and stakeholders .…”

“…Rather than being seen as inconsistent or indecisive, this may be better viewed as evidence of them having already acquired an important attribute of effective leadership, namely, the ability to match style with context, even though it may happen at a subconscious level. This is an illustration of how effective leaders are skilled at modifying their style to best match the circumstances and needs of their followers …”

Being a better surgeon: a multi‐competency challenge

“…This issue of the journal introduces a new series within the domain of Professional Skills for Surgeons, each paper addressing a different aspect of a surgical competency. The first, in this issue, discusses the role of followership in surgery, vital to the competencies of leadership, collaboration and teamwork.…”

“…The critical importance of non‐technical competencies to surgical performance in the operating room has been promoted by the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and their non‐operative technical skills in surgery (NOTSS) course, which also has anaesthetist and operating room nurse equivalents . NOTSS is taught across Australia and New Zealand, whilst RACS courses that teach clinical decision‐making, communication and leadership have been developed. The modern surgeon also needs to acquire cultural competency and avoid communication gaps with their indigenous patients in Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific and indeed any other culture …”