Surgical debriefing is a critical tool for enhancing team performance, fostering communication, and improving patient outcomes. It involves a structured, post-operative discussion where surgical teams review the procedure, identify successes, and address challenges. When done effectively, debriefing can reduce errors, enhance teamwork, and promote a culture of safety and continuous improvement (1). Three key components of effective surgical debriefing include: (1) Structure: Using checklists or frameworks (e.g. WHO Surgical Safety Checklist) to guide the conversation. (2) Psychological Safety: Creating an environment where all team members feel comfortable sharing feedback. (3) Focus Areas: Reviewing what went well, what could be improved, and actionable steps for future cases. Barriers to successful debriefing include time constraints, team culture and hierarchical dynamics (2). Effective surgical leadership plays a vital role in normalising debriefing as a routine practice, ultimately enhancing team dynamics, patient safety, and surgical outcomes. References 1. Zuckerman SL, France DJ, Green C, Leming-Lee S, Anders S, Mocco J. Surgical debriefing: a reliable roadmap to completing the patient safety cycle. Neurosurgical Focus. 2012 Nov 1;33(5):E4. 2. Skegg E, McElroy C, Mudgway M, Hamill J. Debriefing to improve interprofessional teamwork in the operating room: A systematic review. Journal of Nursing Scholarship. 2023 Nov;55(6):1179-88.