COMSEP Conversations about Leadership – March 2026

Please consider joining us for the ongoing series on leadership in medical education.

All COMSEP members are welcome.

COMSEP Conversations about Leadership are designed as informal sessions to:

• Create a diverse and inclusive community of shared experiences and growth
• Develop awareness of different leadership strategies, approaches and challenges
• Facilitate the application of leadership frameworks and theories to one’s own work.

Topic: Situational leadership

The optimal approach to leadership depends on the situation – including the task, context, and developmental level of the people involved. Most of us have a dominant or preferred leadership style. Awareness of that preferred style and deliberate practice in flexing to a different approach may allow us to optimize our effectiveness as leaders. In this session, we’ll reflect on our “go to” approach, consider situations from our own experience that might require a shift in style, and explore how situational leadership can support diversity, equity, and inclusion.

We are keeping to the promise of 15-30 minutes of prep time.

• Read: Situational Leadership Theory (3 minutes)
• Watch: Understanding the Hersey-Blanchard Situational Leadership Model (2 minutes)
• Watch: Situational Leadership (How to Pick the Right Management Style for the Right Team and Situation) (6 minutes). Illustrated video – may be most useful after reviewing the other resources

Additional resources for a deeper dive:

• Are you a Directive or a Supportive Leader? (Prompts self-assessment of microskills)
• Blanchard, A Situational Approach to Managing People (Deeper, primary source)

During this 1-hour session, we will discuss the topic’s relevance and importance – and how it links to our work, COMSEP’s priorities, while highlighting important principles such as diversity, inclusion, equity, and justice. We then plan to work in small groups sharing experiences and responding to prompt questions.
We hope that educators and administrators consider joining us for this and future engaging sessions on leadership. Through your participation, we will learn from one another’s experience and expertise, and further advance COMSEP’s strategic priority of leadership development for all interested COMSEP members.

Please register here:
Zoom Link here (with registration)

Sandra Sanguino & Elizabeth Stuart
Mike Barone
Sherilyn Smith
Joe Gigante
Susan Bannister