Great teams work well together and communicate exceptionally. But when times get busy or stressful due to patient pressure or short-staffed days, it’s hard to make sure everybody’s happy. Follow these nine tips to help keep relationships sweet and morale high in the practice…
Encourage togetherness
Meet regularly. Whether this is shared social lunch breaks in the staff room, or formal meeting times to talk about practice matters…the chance to socialise is very important! Don’t put a stop to chat time – although you might limit when chat time happens, e.g. not in front of patients!
Include meetings to discuss team communications
Make these skill training sessions with time to talk about team and patient communication. Discuss and agree on how team communications take place, e.g. how to ask for help; how to be supportive in times of stress; how to avoid distress.
Give constructive feedback
Do learn how to give feedback constructively and effectively to team members. Don’t pull anyone up in front of another team member, but do address performance or behaviour issues quickly and positively. Give good and positive feedback when team members do well. Try to do this regularly and to everyone – then encourage the team to do the same to each other!
Give clear instructions
Talk about the outcomes you need for any given delegated or requested task. Explain exactly what you need or expect and then let your team member work out the best way to do the task. This develops responsibility for actions, and usually results in higher standards of work delivered.
Never let a bad feeling fester
If two team members fall out, do ask each how they could help to resolve things and work it out carefully. Don’t force them into a room together to ‘sort it out’ without help unless each is prepared to work at it. However do insist that their conflict can’t be allowed to affect the practice, the team or patients.
Make sure everybody knows everything
When new decisions are made, make sure that one named team member is allocated to tell any team members not present about the discussions and decisions next time they meet. You can write meeting minutes up, and put new decisions on white board… but nothing beats a real conversation!
Use technology to communicate
Set up a messenger or WhatsApp group for the whole team to chat on. This will allow the team to quickly exchange information and will allow for real discussion to develop. These discussions may lead to further developments or problem solving.
Socialise
…and have fun whenever possible! Don’t bully everyone into going white water rafting if they don’t want to go, but make sure there is something for everyone. So those who don’t fancy jumping into the cold water can come along and enjoy a BBQ, or take photographs. It’s important to have fun!
