I was invited by the BAPRAS President to an interesting event last week at RBS Bishopsgate, London- 'Inspiring Women Leaders' a book launch by Lee Travers, an executive coach who has distilled the qualities that successful leaders possess.
When it comes to surgical training, as a plastic surgery trainer, I am seeing more women choosing this career path, especially as the intake in medical schools is 60% female. For my generation, the gender of the trainee surgeon is irrelevant. What is crucial is surgical ability, insight and empathy for patients. There is also this nebulous elephant in the room: the confidence - competence gap. The dissociation between these two elements is most noticeable at the ends of the spectrum. On one hand, there are trainees who over-estimate their ability to perform a surgical task. Their profiles and attitudes to risk are perhaps similar to those encountered in other industries such as investment / banking sectors. At the other end of the spectrum, there are those who need mentoring and nurturing to encourage self-belief. Many, however, are in the middle of the spectrum: have insight, and know their limits. As a trainer, I have to identify where the trainee is on this spectrum, and help him/her to explore their potential to its maximum. They are the future of our profession.
When it comes to surgical training, as a plastic surgery trainer, I am seeing more women choosing this career path, especially as the intake in medical schools is 60% female. For my generation, the gender of the trainee surgeon is irrelevant. What is crucial is surgical ability, insight and empathy for patients. There is also this nebulous elephant in the room: the confidence - competence gap. The dissociation between these two elements is most noticeable at the ends of the spectrum. On one hand, there are trainees who over-estimate their ability to perform a surgical task. Their profiles and attitudes to risk are perhaps similar to those encountered in other industries such as investment / banking sectors. At the other end of the spectrum, there are those who need mentoring and nurturing to encourage self-belief. Many, however, are in the middle of the spectrum: have insight, and know their limits. As a trainer, I have to identify where the trainee is on this spectrum, and help him/her to explore their potential to its maximum. They are the future of our profession.
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