A management skills workshop for chief residents.

A needs assessment was used to plan a national workshop on management skills for chief residents. Of replies from 1,256 residency programs, 50 percent of the respondents reported a high likelihood of attending such a workshop. The three skills that the respondents considered should be given high priority in such a workshop were giving feedback, delegating duties, and building teamwork. Based on these responses, the author designed and conducted a two-day workshop in June 1987 that was attended by 180 chief residents from 138 programs in 21 specialties from 36 states. Each skill was taught by presenting a lecture and a small-group exercise to apply the skill; these small groups were led by trained faculty members. The participants rated the workshop as 4.21 (on a 5-point scale in which 5 = very helpful). The workshop will be offered annually.