There are many types of research teams, each one as dynamic as its team members. Research teams may comprise investigators from the same or different fields. Interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary teams researchers from different disciplines bring their unique expertise together and integrate it to solve a complex scientific problem.
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When you engage in Team Science, your opportunity for innovation is exponentially greater and the experience will benefit you throughout your career and then some.
Trust and Psychological Safety
I refer to this as the first pillar of Team Science. It is almost impossible to imagine a successful collaboration without trust and psychological safety. These features provide the foundation for a successful team dynamic. When the team is functioning well, they are positively reinforced.
Shared Vision
The second pillar is building a strong and compelling vision to attract people to the team and provide a foundation for achieving shared goals. Shared vision provides a focal point around which a highly functioning team can coalesce.
Setting Expectations
The final pillar is to set expectations as a team, making the implicit explicit. Do not leave how you work together to chance. Be proactive and put together a collaboration agreement or charter that explicitly lays out the team norms, structures, and processes. Time devoted to this early in the collaboration will pay strong dividends.
Productive Conflict
Conflict can be both a resource and a challenge – productive conflict can expand thinking, lead to new knowledge, and stimulate new directions for research. On the other hand, unproductive conflict, impedes effective team functioning and stifles scientific advancement.
Team Evolution and Dynamics
Research teams form and develop through critical stages to achieve their highest potential (Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing). Knowing how to build and sustain a positive team dynamic enables the team to surmount any challenge that comes before them. You can build your team on purpose.
Communication
Effective communication within and outside a research team is essential for effective group functioning. Learning how to communicate well creates a safe environment where team members can openly share concerns, discuss new scientific ideas, and take research into new, previously unconsidered directions.
Sharing Credit
Individual contributions can be recognized, reviewed, and rewarded in the context of a collaboration when you plan ahead. Recognition and reward of all team members should be addressed early, done thoughtfully, and discussed frequently.
Leadership
Strong collaborative leadership elicits and capitalizes on the team members’ strengths and talents. It’s a critical component of team success. Every team member is a leader from where they stand in the organization. The leader’s role is to empower all team members to embrace their leadership potential.
Self-Awareness
Self-awareness gives people greater ability to respond to unexpected situations, improves the quality of their interactions, and helps build other awarenesses.
