Building the family medicine resident team from day one of orientation.
Social Psychology and organizational behavior have provided many suggestions for how best to build teams. J. Richard Hackman, who began researching teams in the 1970s, identified the necessary conditions for a successful team. These include; a compelling direction; a strong structure; a supportive context; and a shared mindset. Embracing these elements, we have designed an orientation for our 10 incoming family medicine residents that strengthen the supportive context and shared mindset with exercises that raise awareness of attribution as it impacts our understanding of others. Our ranking of residents in the MATCH is weighted heavily in terms of team player qualities; however, the composition of the group is left to chance. Given this limitation it is up to the faculty, staff and other residents to jump start the team building effort as soon as the group is identified.
This seminar introduces attendees to a number of exercises, both cognitive and experiential, that promote the development of team trust, collaboration and connection as the interns embark on a three year, life-changing, educational, emotional, physical, psychological and spiritual journey.