Nursing Leadership &

Management
Patricia Kelly-Heidenthal
0-7668-2508-6

Delmar Learning
Copyright © 2003 Delmar Learning, a Thomson Learning company
 Chapter 10
Effective Team Building

Delmar Learning
Copyright © 2003 Delmar Learning, a Thomson Learning company
 Objectives

 Upon completion of this chapter, the reader should be

able to:
• Identify the differences between groups, teams, and
committees.
• Discuss the stages of group process.
• Review key concepts of effective teams.
• Discuss ways in which a nurse manager can create an
environment conducive to team building.

Chapter 10 Copyright © 2003 Delmar Learning, a Thomson Learning company 3

 Defining a Group

 A group is a collection of people who interact with

one another on a noted frequency.
 Primary group
• Consists of people who share a common bond
• Is informal
• Usually has no written rules for membership
• Can begin or end at any point

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 Defining a Group

 Secondary group
• Held together with formal rules and regulations
• Has procedures for maintenance of the group and
association policies
• Meets for an organized purpose, for a specific project for a
specific time frame

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 Defining a Team

 A team consists of a small group of people with

related skills who:
• Need contributions from each team member to succeed
• Share a common purpose or set of goals and approaches
• Hold themselves accountable for accomplishment of goals
• Interdisciplinary teams are comprised of members with a
variety of clinical expertise

Chapter 10 Copyright © 2003 Delmar Learning, a Thomson Learning company 6

 Defining a Committee

 A committee is a group formed to assist an

organization with communication and decision
making.
 Types of committees include:
• Ad hoc committee
• Standing committee
• Advisory committee

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 Stages of Group and Team Process

 Forming stage
• Expectation
• Interaction
 Storming phase
 Norming phase
 Performing stage
 Adjourning phase

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 Group Roles

 Members can assume various roles.

 Individuals may assume multiple roles.
 Roles may be supportive or divisive.
 Roles may be well-defined to undefined.
 Roles may change with situations.

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 Functional Versus Dysfunctional
Members
 Functional roles
• Creator
• Coordinator
• Mobilizer
• Questioner
• Antagonist
• Recorder

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 Functional Versus Dysfunctional
Members
 Dysfunctional roles
• Criticizer
• Passive observer
• Detailer
• Controller
• Pleaser

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 Key Concepts of Effective Teams

 Great Team Guidelines

• Have a clearly stated purpose.
• Assess the team composition.
• Assess communication abilities and strategies.
• Promote active participation.
• Establish clear path to proceed.
• Provide ongoing assessment and evaluation.

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 Team Building

 Clearly establish expectations for team and for team

members.
 Avoid “turf wars” among team members.
 Establish and encourage mutual trust, support, and
active listening.

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 Creating an Environment Conducive to
Team Building
 Leadership style: avoid authoritarianism; encourage
creativity and participation.
 Provide appropriate resources.
 Get support from administration.
 Highlight progress and positive effects of project, so
that team members feel sense of accomplishment.
 Involve administration and others early.

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 Necessary Team Leader Skills

 Written and verbal communication skills

 Sensitivity to different cultures and values
 Awareness of others’ abilities
 Genuine interest in team members
 Open and objective communication style
 Planning and coordination skills

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 Necessary Team Leader Skills

 Flexibility
 Involves others
 Acknowledges contributions and accomplishments of
team members
 Operates effectively as a team leader and as a team
member

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 Developing Decision-Making and
Problem-Solving Skills
 Decision-making Styles
• Autocratic: leader makes decisions
• Consultative: leader consults with team members, but
ultimately makes decisions
• Joint: leader and team make decisions together
• Delegative: leader delegates decision making to team and
team makes decisions
• Consensus: all members must agree to final decision

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 Successful Team Membership

 Various abilities and personalities must be blended.

 Destructive behaviors must be avoided.
 A mixture of clinical abilities is needed.
 A variety of personalities is needed.

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Myers-Briggs as Indicator of Personality
Types
 Introvert – Extrovert
 Intuitive – Sensing
 Thinking – Feeling
 Judging – Perceiving

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