Leadership equation: 7C + 1 = success

In its simplest form, collaboration means working with others. A slightly expanded version implies two or more people working jointly toward a common goal. So why is collaboration such a struggle for physicians? Medical education has generally fostered a culture of the rugged individualist by ­rewarding clinical skills that include autonomy, ­decisiveness, and independence. While this is changing, individualism is still the norm for most clinicians. But to succeed as a physician leader, this style is of limited effectiveness. In many instances acting as the sole authority is actually antithetical to reducing conflict and achieving a positive outcome.

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