Chapter 3 - Your Team

Summary

In medicine, the goals are different based on the individual group; thus, establishing the vision and goals for your group is essential, so that they know the scope, steps, and potential obstacles. All too often, teams are left to make assumptions as to what the goals are; this leads to uncertainty, questioning, and a lack of faith or trust in you as a leader. Setting the goals, and reminding people of them periodically, will help keep your group oriented and focused. This chapter focuses on how to assemble a well-running team, whether you need to get to know who is on it already or if you’re assembling it from scratch. It dives into how to gain a better understanding of your team members, what motivates them, and their potential strengths and weaknesses. It also goes into how to identify the personality traits that may make them a more or less effective team member. We describe the great importance of diversity for your team, as it is a key source for innovation, creativity, and perspective. It discusses the importance of midlevel leadership and when it is necessary. Mentorship is discussed in detail, as a key component to the development of your group members. Principles of recruiting and retaining good group members are reviewed, as well as operating principles for your team.