Understanding the Difference Between Leadership and Power

Presented by Faisal Aziz, MD, FACS)
(Recorded November 2017)

Surgeons have inherent leadership qualities. Being surgeons, we are used to making prompt, life-saving decisions based on limited information which is presented to us. Power is defined as ability to influence others. It is easy to confuse leadership and power with each other. Dr. Aziz explains key differences between leadership and power. You will learn that great leaders don’t need power to influence their followers. Leaders have a vision and they use their influence to implement their vision. While a powerful person focuses on exerting his control over his subordinates, a leader inspires trust among his followers.

Learning Objectives

• Define your personal leadership goals
• Create a strategy to achieve leadership goals
• Leadership ability without power is better than power without leadership

More about Faisal Aziz

Faisal Aziz, MD, FACS, obtained his medical degree from King Edward Medical College. He completed postdoctoral research fellowship at Yale University and obtained his training in general surgery at New York Medical College. He completed his vascular surgery fellowship at Jobst Vascular Institute. He currently serves as Associate Professor of Vascular Surgery at Penn State University, College of Medicine. He is currently the program director for integrated vascular surgery residency program and is the interim chief of vascular surgery division.

He is a member of ACS Young Fellows Association and is past chair of the American Venous Forum research committee. He is the immediate past president of the South Asian American Vascular Surgery Society. He is associate editor for Annals of Vascular Surgery and section editor for Vascular Education Self-Assessment Program (VESAP-4). He is also a member of Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) honor society.