AAOS Leadership Institute Equips Future Leaders with Strategies for Effective Communication

The AAOS Leadership Institute (ALI) hosted a webinar in October 2024 focused on developing excellent communication skills to help current and future AAOS volunteer leaders succeed, engage confidently with other members and patients, and represent the core values of the Academy.

The webinar was part of a series for Level 2 members of the ALI program, which offers AAOS members training, mentoring, and networking opportunities to help them acquire and enhance the key skills needed to succeed as a volunteer leader at AAOS. AAOS Communications Committee Chair Jason Koh, MD, MBA, FAAOS, led an expert panel of webinar faculty, including Alan Hilibrand, MD, MBA, FAAOS; Elizabeth Matzkin, MD, FAAOS; and Joel L. Mayerson, MD, FAAOS. The webinar underscored how strong communication skills are important in various settings—whether speaking at an AAOS committee meeting, presenting to the Board of Councilors (BOC) or Board of Specialty Societies (BOS), delivering an Instructional Course Lecture, teaching a skills course, or engaging with policymakers.

“ALI programming prepares and trains the next generation of AAOS leadership, and a vital skill for any leader is to be an effective and engaging communicator,” Dr. Koh said. “This module underscored crafting clear audience-focused messages, the importance of two-way communication, managing difficult conversations, and selecting appropriate communication methods to convey these messages.”

The session offered tools, tips, practice scenarios, and feedback to enhance communication with colleagues and key stakeholders. Dr. Matzkin coached the attendees on the importance of building trust and connecting with audiences in a compelling and authentic manner, ensuring that messages resonate and are well received.

“To build trust and mutual respect, it is essential to understand your audience, actively listen, and communicate with confidence and transparency, especially when addressing opposing viewpoints,” Dr. Matzkin advised. “Communicating isn’t just about speaking—it is also about listening. Active listening involves concentration, understanding, responding, and remembering what is being said, along with nonverbal techniques such as maintaining eye contact, nodding, and paraphrasing to demonstrate attentiveness.”

Dr. Hilibrand focused on developing emotional intelligence as a mindset to communicate with respect and understanding, especially in challenging conversations. Attendees participated in interactive breakout sessions using real-world scenarios to determine how they would provide feedback, enhancing their ability to navigate tough discussions with empathy and professionalism.

Case study: Bidirectional communication
Dr. Mayerson, BOC chair, shared a recent example of an effective bidirectional communication approach through the State Orthopaedic Societies (SOS) Outreach Initiative. This initiative established a clear pathway between the BOC and SOS to support the importance of bidirectional communication, an important function of the BOC. As a result of this initiative, regional forums were created so the BOC could meet with state society leaders to address key concerns affecting the daily practice of orthopaedics, including advocacy, scope of practice, and society management, among others. Feedback and common concerns from grassroots leaders were then elevated to the AAOS Board of Directors, strengthening the connection between state and national leadership.

“This pathway has fostered better communication, problem-solving, and innovation, ultimately improving patient care,” Dr. Mayerson said. “By opening the lines of communication at the state level, we’ve enhanced collaboration among SOS members with the AAOS Board of Directors, providing a stronger voice for the musculoskeletal community.”

AAOS leaders are focused on implementing bidirectional communication as part of the 2024 to 2028 Strategic Plan. Ensuring members and partners are heard allows for better feedback, trust, and problem solving.

“Effective communication is not just a skill; it is a cornerstone of successful leadership, collaboration, and innovation, and it takes practice, ongoing experience, and reflection to understand ways to improve,” Dr. Koh said.

ALI continues to prioritize the development of skilled, confident leaders who can drive change within the musculoskeletal community by serving as an AAOS volunteer. Ready to take the next step in your leadership journey? Explore ALI at aaos.org/leadershipinstitute.

Jennifer Lefkowitz is a freelance writer for AAOS Now.