Nurses, administrators, and medical professionals participate in the process of caring for patients. Therefore, their collaboration can significantly impact the effectiveness of the team and patient outcomes. I have been and currently am a part of multiple groups at my places of work. One of my experiences includes working with a team of healthcare professionals in an end-of-care facility. This group consists of various medical workers, nurses, and administrators. Our collaboration is at a stage where every person clearly realizes his/her roles and knows the duties and personal characteristics of others. Below, the formation, issues, and strategies for improvement are discussed in regards to this group.
Group Formation
According to Tuckman’s model, teams can go through four stages during their work. These are “forming, storming, norming and performing” (Raes, Kyndt, Decuyper, Van den Bossche, & Dochy, 2015, p. 6). Some groups may skip the second step if they do not have any conflicts, as storming is the process of people discovering and examining their different worldviews. The discussed team of professionals is currently in the last stage, performing. It has gone through all steps and formed with time and effort.
Upon being hired for the position of a nurse in this facility, I was introduced to an already functioning team. My addition was followed by a forming process, as I was learning more information about the other workers. Then, my lack of experience in this field was challenged in the process of storming. I had to learn how to voice my opinion and be heard. The third step, norming, began after I have spent some time working with my colleagues. Finally, the last stage started when all staff members learned to collaborate with each other.
Overall, the group was never stuck in one stage, dealing with conflicts rather efficiently. When the team was dealing with a change in staffing that was bigger than one person, some nurses assumed the role of aggressors, trying to assert their position through negative remarks. Other staff members approached this situation quickly, addressing the aggressors’ emotional state. Moreover, respect for coworkers and the principle of integrity were brought up to mitigate the situation.
Group-Building Role
The existence of members with different group building roles is essential for the team’s success. I consider myself an encourager, a group commentator, and a follower (Marquis & Huston, 2017). It is possible for members to perform multiple functions because of the team’s dynamic nature. All participants can introduce their ideas and comments on opinions and contributions of others. Thus, my roles correspond with the necessary actions of the group.
Strategies for Group Progress
While the group is currently operating without major disputes, some situations may arise where a team member staggers the performance, or a new problem causes the whole team to return to the storming phase. To mitigate such conflicts, leaders need to utilize communicational strategies. For example, Haynes and Strickler (2014) outline a number of tools that can be used to encourage conversation, including call outs and check backs. All problems have to be addressed and discussed without holding any information in secret from other people. A role of the leader is to facilitate a respectful dialogue among the group’s members. One has to point out negative behaviors assertively and without aggression. Furthermore, the group may need reconfiguring if its members cannot come to an agreement. For instance, Chun and Choi (2014) suggest to partner individuals with different levels of competitiveness to decrease the rate of possible conflicts.
Conclusion
Teams are dynamic – they can go through different stages multiple times, depending on their environment and personal characteristics. The discussed group of workers is currently in the fourth stage, performing. It had completed all steps to becoming an effective working unit. My roles are those of an encourager, commentator, and follower. As a leader, I can apply strategies focused on open and respectful but assertive conversation that addresses everyone’s concerns and calls out inappropriate behavior.
References
Chun, J. S., & Choi, J. N. (2014). Members’ needs, intragroup conflict, and group performance. Journal of Applied Psychology, 99(3), 437-450.
Haynes, J., & Strickler, J. (2014). TeamSTEPPS makes strides for better communication. Nursing, 44(1), 62-63.
Marquis, B. L., & Huston, C. J. (2017). Leadership roles and management functions in nursing: Theory and application (9th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins.
Raes, E., Kyndt, E., Decuyper, S., Van den Bossche, P., & Dochy, F. (2015). An exploratory study of group development and team learning. Human Resource Development Quarterly, 26(1), 5-30.