In times of rapid change, adaptability in communication and leadership becomes essential for growth in health sciences education. While clinical knowledge and technical skills are explicitly taught, communication and interpersonal abilities, critical for teamwork, professional development, and leadership, are often assumed to emerge “on the job.” To truly prepare medical educators as innovative and resilient leaders, medical education must intentionally integrate leadership development. Evidence supports that such training enhances interdisciplinary collaboration and drives positive transformation in education environments. This workshop introduces an evidence-based, established leadership activity (adapted from business organizational management text) designed to help participants identify their and others leadership and communication styles (called leadership frames). Beginning with a self-quiz, including active exploration of each leadership frame and small group problem-solving of medical education-specific scenarios; completing this focus session will enable participants to adapt to team dynamics, recognize and leverage diverse leadership styles, and apply effective communication strategies in complex settings. Applicable across learner levels and roles, the activity is both replicable at participants’ home institutions and adaptable as a stand-alone or curricular element. Ultimately, the focus equips participants with tools to flourish through personal growth; empowering them to reframe workplace dynamics and empower reinterpretation of leadership styles.

Learning Outcomes

• Name/describe characteristics of the four leadership frames; identify one’s dominant frame.
• Distinguish and recognize effective/ineffective use of each leadership frame.
• Apply leadership frames to academic medicine interactions and describe how teams/communication are impacted.
• Describe the impact of diversity in leadership frames within a team.