Building Self-Confidence and Other Skills: What Surgeons Can Learn From Other Professions

Abstract

Self-confidence is one of the attributes often assigned to surgeons, but surgeons do not always feel self-confident in the operating room. A lack of confidence may lead to poor performance for both the surgeon and the surgical team. The ideal qualities of a self-confident surgeon, barriers to achieving confidence and strategies for becoming a more confident surgeon and leader in the operating room are outlined in this chapter.