S03E07: The Missing Pillar in Surgical Training with Dr. Sharon L. Stein

In our surgical training, we are masters of the clinical and the technical. We know the anatomy, the indications, and the surgical techniques. But there is a missing pillar in our education — one that often accounts for 70% of the problems residency directors and surgical chairs face.

In this episode, Dr. Sharon Stein dives into the "Soft Skills" of surgery: communication, negotiation, emotional intelligence, and team building. Often dismissed or ignored, these skills are actually the bedrock of effective leadership, whether you are leading a committee or simply leading a patient through a life-changing diagnosis in the clinic.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

• Why the term isn't about being "soft" or "weak," but about the non-physical skills that the military has long prioritized as essential for leadership.
• Why professional development is the third, often ignored, leg of the surgical stool.
• Leadership in the "Just a Surgeon" Role: Why every surgeon is a leader — from convincing a patient to accept a necessary stoma to managing a team with mismatched priorities in the OR.
• The "One-and-Done" Course Problem: Why weekend leadership retreats often fail to stick and why we need longitudinal, consistent practice to build these "muscles."
• A Lesson in Communication Styles: Sharon shares a personal story of a "messy" interaction with a colleague and how understanding the difference between "speaking-to-think" and "thinking-to-speak" changed her team’s dynamic.
• How to recognize when a conflict isn't about who is right or wrong, but about whose values are at play, and how to find a solution that honors both.
• Launching the Next Generation: Sharon also discusses her passion for teaching graduating residents and fellows how to negotiate and prioritize early, with the goal of reducing the 50% turnover rate for first surgical jobs.

Key Takeaway for Listeners:

"We are smart enough to learn how to do complex surgery; we are certainly smart enough to learn leadership. But first, we have to prioritize it. Most of the problems we deal with aren't technical — they’re interpersonal." — Dr. Sharon Stein

Connect with Sharon:

• The Surgeons Launchpad: Coaching for Residents & Fellows: Are you graduating soon? Learn the skills to get your first job and retain those skills for life... Learn more on how to launch your career with intention here.
• Institutional Workshops: Does your division have recurring conflict? Sharon works with departments to embed these soft skills into the culture through longitudinal programs.
• Website:www.intentionalsurgeon.com