Teambuilding 1: How to build effective teams in healthcare

Effective teams need a shared purpose. Building teams requires a teaming strategy to ensure all members are clear about their role and the team’s purpose


Abstract
In healthcare, good team building is where all team members understand, believe in and work towards the shared purpose of caring and working for patients. This sense of common purpose should never be assumed. Team leaders should talk about it at every opportunity and ensure all team members are working towards it in their day-to-day work. All teams move through different stages of development, but are at their most productive where there is openness and trust, with members working to their own strengths. Team leaders should develop a “teaming strategy” to plan how people will act and work together, including effective use of communication technology to help them make better use of face-to-face time.

Citation: Craig M, Mckeown D (2015) Teambuilding 1: How to build effective teams in healthcare. Nursing Times; 111: 14, 16-18.

Authors: Maxine Craig is head of organisation development and Debi Mckeown is nursing sister for therapeutic care, both at South Tees Hospitals Foundation Trust.
This article has been double-blind peer reviewed
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In this series, read part 2 here and part 3 here