Interdisciplinary Health Care Teams: Leadership Tasks

Organizer/Mover
initiate team development
identify team tasks
identify strengths/weaknesses
call meetings
provide structure
review team needs
identify appropriate patients
Finisher
impose time constraints
focus on outputs (patients treated, goals achieved)
seek progress
show high commitment to task
manage projects
Expert
have special expertise
offer professional viewpoint
identify interdisciplinary patient problems
use expertise of other disciplines
understand patient needs
know team's expertise and limits

Ambassador
build external relationships
promote awareness of the team's work
build bridges
show concern for external team environment

Diplomat
build understanding between members
negotiate
mediate
facilitate decision making
Supporter
build team morale
put team members at ease
ensure job satisfaction
help patient work with team
Judge/Evaluator
listen critically
evaluate clinical process
evaluate clinical outcomes
help team reflect
promote appropriate treatment
act logically
seek truth

Process Analyzer
identify team problems
analyze team problems
consult with team members
offer observations
offer potential solutions to team problems
Facilitator
identify member conflicts
help team members find ways to resolve conflicts
help implement solutions
Creator
generalize new ideas
  • isualize new programs/projects
  • isualize new alliances

Innovator
discover resources
identity opportunities
transform ideas to strategy
propose new methods
Challenger
offer skepticism
look in new ways
  • uestion accepted order
Reviewer
observe
review team performance
promote review of process
give feedback
mirror team's actions
Quality Controller
check output alignment
act as conscience regarding team goals
inspire higher standards
assure team reviews outcomes
Conformer/Follower
seek agreement
fill gaps in teamwork
cooperate
help relationships
avoid challenges
maintain continuity

Guard
protect team from too much output
protect team from too much input
Teacher
help new members learn the norms and values of the team
teach shared leadership skills to other members
recognize member's leadership potential
teach others when to seek advice
Learner
raise questions to enhance understanding across disciplines or areas
raise questions regarding need for interdisciplinary input

Source: Adapted from a table compiled by Theresa Drinka, Ph.D., River’s Edge Consulting®, Waupaca, WI, 54981, 1995.