Learning to communicate effectively in multidisciplinary teams

Innovative clinical research is dependent on multi-disciplinary teams to envision, design and implement complex research protocols. The varied backgrounds and approaches can also cause culture clashes with a team, when team members from one field have trouble communicating with team members from other fields. Each team member brings not only the knowledge of their field, but also the cultural norms and behaviors socialized into their field. Those culture clashes can cause more than frustrations; they can be a serious detriment to team function. Team communication and collaboration can be particularly difficult when team members seek to protect their own power, control and authority.

On June 8, I will be presenting an ACRP webinar that will examine how specific communication behaviors impact clinical research team function. Effective team communication enhances team functioning and can strengthen team members' attachment and commitment to the team. Therefore, the goal of the presentation is to identify potential barriers to communication and team function and develop strategies for overcoming barriers and maximizing benefits of multi-disciplinary clinical research teams.