Table 4 Leadership competencies for health professional educators (adapted from Oates, 2012) [3]

Knowledge of leadership concepts

• This includes theoretical background, organisational structure, and leadership development of others.

Motivator, mentor and facilitator

• Integrity should be shown in motivating and encouraging others instead of controlling situations.

• Through excellence in role modelling, and careful delegation, future leaders are developed, and succession planning can occur.

Communicator

• Good communication entails consistent messages through various methods over time.

• Communication by leaders is required at all levels: to senior management, administrators, team members, and to patients.

• Communication should always be respectful, and acknowledge the input and achievements of others.

• Networking, facilitating groups, effective listening and feedback skills.

Ability to set direction and lead change

• Understand the environment, set goals, change management, decision making.

Leadership presence

• The ability to assume a leadership role in various settings, share your opinion with confidence, and communicate and engage with others.

Team leader, team player, team-building

• A good leader is not only a team leader, but also a team player, who values and seeks the opinions of others.

• Leaders are involved in teaching, coaching and mentoring, holding team members accountable, and undertaking performance appraisals.

• Conflict resolution skills are needed in leadership roles. The views and abilities of all parties should be respected.

• Group problem-solving, conflict management, contributions to team processes and development.

Healthcare education research skills

• Although time may not permit involvement in educational research, a good leader will have the ability to critically appraise research, and an understanding of the value of research.

Business skills

• Human Resource management, work flow, budgeting, effectiveness evaluation, business plan development.

• Reduction of waste and inefficiencies.

• Financial management skills, including resource allocation, reduction in variation of clinical practice to reduce costs, and increase provisions for clinical care.

Self-management

• Time management, work-life balance.

Ability to develop others

• Coaching, motivating, interpersonal effectiveness.