Team Climate
Definition
Fosters a collaborative and positive work environment
What is it?
An ideal team climate encourages team member participation. A leader fostering a strong team climate encourages others to speak up and share their observations. It is a group effort and each person has unique strengths and ideas to bring to the team.
Why is it important?
In almost all healthcare professions and in our personal lives, we will be expected to work in a team or collaborate with others. In comparison with organizations whose team climate is low, a more effective team environment shows an increase in motivation and more collaboration. Increased team climate also fosters supportiveness of each other, strength in difficult times, and a willingness to share the workload. These are all positive dynamics necessary for a sustainable and productive work environment. Being able to depend on your team and be depended on minimizes burnout and often increases patient safety. While you may enjoy and appreciate amiable teamwork among your health care colleagues, your patients rely on your ability to work together.
Suggestions for Improvement
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Create a Shared Vision
Team members need to know where the team is going and why it exists. The best team leaders constantly remind the team of its purpose. Vision statements, inspirational stories, and explicit statements about standards and expectations build and reinforce a clear vision so that it is shared and embraced by all.
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Acknowledge Small Wins
The fast-paced and stressful world of health care delivery places extreme burdens on individuals and teams. That’s why the best team leaders regularly acknowledge individual contributions and celebrate team successes. A simple comment of “good work today team” can go a long way toward encouraging hearts and building commitment.
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Stimulate Conversation
As a supervisor, one of your major responsibilities is to stimulate discussion. Remember that employees are often afraid to disagree with one another and that this fear can lead your team to make mediocre decisions. When you encourage debate in a way that is respectful and productive, you inspire creativity and spur the team on to better results and continuous improvement.
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