Primary Care is so much about teams. When I started in general practice it was the Practice team, and within that the GP team, Nurse team and the non-clinical team. The practice was a business, so we also had a management team.

Sometime later we added a Multi-Disciplinary Team, and a Patient Team. Practice Managers, being great at collaboration, also had their own Practice Managers Team.
Now we have a Primary Care Network Team, and a new clinical team of ARRS roles. There are lots of teams.
This isn’t anything you don’t already know, and teams are certainly no bad thing. Some of the benefits you can expect from a successful, effective team include:
⭐ Problem solving is better – two or more brains are better than one.
⭐ Productivity is greater – more can be accomplished by a group than alone.
⭐ Innovation increases - teams of different backgrounds, experiences and skill sets are more likely to come up with new ideas.
⭐ Personal development is maximised – learning increases with the sharing of knowledge and skills.
⭐ Resilience improves – team members support each other, and stress is lower as problems are faced together.
As we now start building Integrated Neighbourhood Teams, things are likely to get even bigger and more complex. Just don’t expect them all to deliver these benefits if they’re not set up to do so.
If you want your teams to achieve great things, make sure you’re getting the basics right:
✅ Make the purpose and goals clear
Collectively and individually, everyone needs to be 100% clear on what they need to do. Then give them flexibility and freedom to decide how to do it.
✅ Embrace diversity and inclusivity
Build diverse teams that recognise their different skills and know when each should be used.
✅ Decision making by the team
Let the team make their own decisions, or at least be part of the process.
✅ Open and honest communication
Ensure communication with, and in the team, builds trust and a positive and collaborative culture. Encourage conversations about progress, performance and feelings.
✅ Celebrate success
Recognise positive contributions, achievements and each milestone passed. It builds morale and reinforces the importance of success.
Whether you’re creating a team, or leading a team, the best teams are built on the right foundations.
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