3.5.d Attributes of High Functioning Teams

To achieve and maintain high performing health care teams, technical skills are not enough. Non-technical skills such as leadership, situational awareness, decision making, task management and communication are essential (8). High functioning teams display “a set of social and cognitive skills that support high quality, safe, effective and efficient inter-professional care within the complex healthcare system (9).” Experts have identified these social factors as communication and teamwork skills, and the cognitive factors as personal behaviours and analytic skills (10).

In a high functioning team, all members use clear language, organize and convey information in a logical and practical manner, ensure understanding, and confirm their own understanding when receiving information from someone else (10).  They also volunteer relevant information, focus on the person's care preferences when conflict arises, and value and seek team input (10).The personal behaviours that team members display are compassion, integrity, and honesty. They regularly engage in critical self-appraisal and welcome feedback on performance. They identify when stress may pose a risk to others and themselves, and they recognize fatigue and take appropriate actions to negate risk (10).

High functioning teams also possess and apply analytical skills (10). They gather and analyze information to support awareness of risk of errors in the workplace.  They identify pragmatic and reasonable solutions available to their team and they re-evaluate their decisions and processes. They are willing and able to change course when significant problems are encountered.These teams encourage active dialogue about situational awareness and discuss and anticipate risks for the team in the future (10).