Leadership is taking a team on a journey between the reality of the present and vision of the future. Essential leadership skills for a Family Medicine Residency Program Director involve defining a vision for the future, identifying the program’s core values, and creating a noble cause that energizes all members of the team. The Director must understand the present reality of the program first before taking the team on the journey to the next level. Important leadership skills are learning to manage your own time, nurturing leadership skills in others, developing a team that trusts each other, managing team meetings, and excelling at communication.