Success in leadership for academic medicine is much more complex and characterized by an accelerating pace of change. For new leaders, a robust support team is essential. To optimize that support, a thorough assessment of the individual leaders’ skills and experience, as well as the institutional environment is imperative at the beginning of their tenure. For that reason, a structured program or institutional review preceding the placement of a new leader can have great value. Once the institutional and leader assessments are completed, an ideal support team can be created to buttress areas where the leaders may face their greatest challenges. Furthermore, when leading a new team, a leader’s thorough understanding of different team members skills, experience, and styles of work and communication can be leveraged to optimize the success of the program, division, or department.
Recruitment is one of the most critical responsibilities of leaders to ensure the success of their departments. To avoid unsuccessful recruitment searches, all departments, regardless of their national esteem, must carefully prepare both the candidate and the department. With this preparation, departments can better present the opportunities that would attract the candidate, evaluate the cultural alignment, and to meet the candidate’s personal and professional goals. Personal respect for the candidate, not institutional arrogance, is required for successful recruitment. The Child Health Advisory Council (CHAC) and leadership of CareerPhysician discuss their perspectives on best practices to respect candidates during leadership search.
Recruitment is one of the most critical responsibilities of leaders to ensure the success of their departments. To avoid unsuccessful recruitment searches, all departments, regardless of their national esteem, must carefully prepare both the candidate and the department. With this preparation, departments can better present the opportunities that would attract the candidate, evaluate the cultural alignment, and to meet the candidate’s personal and professional goals. Personal respect for the candidate, not institutional arrogance, is required for successful recruitment. The Child Health Advisory Council (CHAC) and leadership of CareerPhysician discuss their perspectives on best practices to respect candidates during leadership search.
