Our framework has been accepted for publication in the Annals of Surgery.
There are three distinct but inter-related activities of coaching:
- Setting goals
- Encouraging and motivating
- Developing and guiding
Each of these concepts is developed and central to our framework for surgical coaching. These activities will be influenced by both mutable and static forces. Mutable characteristics that must be optimized in the design of any coaching activity include the traits of the coach including both technical and non-technical knowledge, as well as his/her disposition and inherent traits. The coaching context should be designed to facilitate the desired coaching activities. Activities must also consider the traits of the surgeon to be coached as well as the operative context in which he or she functions. Each surgeon will bring a particular skill level, set of experiences, interpersonal skills and disposition that will make him or her more or less receptive and amenable to the coaching activities.