Being a Leader: What it Means & What it Takes

Dr. Brantley Thrasher reflects on a piece of advice he received several years ago when considering a leadership role he wasn't ready for. He emphasizes the importance of mentors, the power of honest conversation, and listening to show your team that they can trust you and be willing to follow your lead. He notes that when looking for a leadership role, it's important to know your skillset and to be honest with yourself and those around you. It is also important to recognize when someone is not the right fit for a particular leadership role and to be willing to be open and honest with them about it. He shares his experience of having to tell a friend that they don't have the skill set for the job, and how he has seen people treating their team in a disrespectful way.

Finally, he also discusses his past experience as the chair of Urology at Kansas and president of the AUA and Society of Urological Oncology, as well as his current role as the chair of the Society of Academic Urology and the executive director of the American Board of Urology. Finally, he offers advice to those looking for a leadership role on how to assess if they have the skills for the job. He recommends books such as The Servant, Grit, The Road to Character, and The War of Art.