Strong leadership communication is crucial in healthcare settings, especially for mid-level managers who connect frontline employees with senior institutional leaders. Even though it is highly important, leadership communication training is often insufficient in healthcare education programs. This descriptive analysis examined the rollout and outcomes of a well-organized leadership communication initiative designed to improve mid-level managers’ communication, psychological safety, and team dynamics at the Mayo Clinic. A set of leadership development programs was designed and delivered by the Experience Training, Education, and Coaching (XTEC) unit, based on proven communication techniques. Three main courses—CORE Communication Skills for Leaders, Navigating Team Dynamics, and Psychological Safety and Transparency—were delivered online. After each course, participants completed surveys evaluating the quality of the training, their confidence in using the new skills, and their overall satisfaction. An individual coaching initiative was also reviewed based on participant responses. Information was gathered from January 2021 to October 2023 through voluntary, anonymous surveys, and the results were analyzed using descriptive statistics.
Between September 2019 and October 2023, a total of 2,297 healthcare managers joined at least one leadership course, including 189 who completed all three. Surveys, which began in January 2021, revealed high satisfaction and strong confidence in applying the skills. 95% of participants in the CORE course reported meeting the learning goals. In comparison, 97% of those in Navigating Team Dynamics and 93% of those in Psychological Safety and Transparency reported they would recommend the programs. The one-on-one coaching sessions were positively received, with 97% of participants feeling confident about continuing to use the strategies they learned. These results point to a clear need for dedicated leadership communication training for mid-level healthcare managers. The large number of participants and overwhelmingly positive responses show strong demand and high perceived value. The study emphasizes the benefits of hands-on experiential learning and structured practice in developing leadership capabilities. Increasing access to training, adding more advanced content, and exploring digital engagement methods could further strengthen leadership development efforts.
