Whole Brain Leadership for Creating Resonant Multidisciplinary Health Care Teams

• Published in: The Annals of thoracic surgery Vol. 108; no. 4; pp. 978 - 986
• Main Authors: Ungerleider, Ross M., Ungerleider, Jamie Dickey
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Inc 01.10.2019
• Subjects: Attitude of Health Personnel; Humans; Interprofessional Relations; Leadership; Patient Care Team - organization & administration
• ISSN: 0003-4975; 1552-6259
• DOI: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2019.03.037

The culture of health care creates important challenges for health care professionals. In particular, we work in a culture that is (1) hierarchical, (2) competitive, and (3) perfectionistic. Unfortunately, the consequence of acquiescing to those demands is contrary to promoting Resonant teamwork, and it is important for leaders of multidisciplinary teams to understand how to create environments that flatten the hierarchy (by encouraging all members of the team to contribute; and to genuinely seek the wisdom and knowledge of their colleagues), that encourage collaboration and cooperation (emphasizing collective wins and losses both for the immediate team as well as for all of us, as a profession), and that invites excellence (which is a process) versus expectation of perfection (which is an unrealistic outcome).