Learning to communicate in multi-disciplinary teams

I am privileged to be presenting at the Association of Clinical Research Professionals Global Conference later this week. I will be presenting a poster and a brief presentation about a topic that combines my interest, experience and expertise in the fields of communication research and clinical research: communication in multi-disciplinary research teams.

Multi-disciplinary research teams offer many advantages, the most compelling of which is having a broad range of perspectives to bring new and innovative ideas to the research table. But each of us educated in a specific discipline are taught to approach questions and problems in a certain way. When required to work with people who are educated another way, potential conflicts arise. Understanding the potential pitfalls to working with multi-disciplinary teams is the first step to maximizing the benefits of these teams. Team leaders need to work to create a supportive environment, where all members feel safe to share new and innovative ideas that may be unfamiliar to the rest of the group. Ongoing conversations about roles in the team, as well as making a conscious effort to learn from your teammates, will head off some of the potential misunderstandings.

The benefits of multi-disciplinary teams far outweigh the potential pitfalls, but being prepared for the pitfalls makes success all the more likely.