Selfless

The adage, "Stay in your lane" permeates professional healthcare at all levels. As noted above, following this 'sign' has distinct advantages and practical applications. (This also references the concept of silos). However, the functionality of a multidisciplinary team providing brief consultation within the hospital setting requires flexibility, both within the core team unit but also with the referring physician/unit. Therefore, the next main point to address team cohesion is to utilize the concept of "one down approach". Using this ideology, you and your team (either through its part or the gestalt) are no better or know no more than anyone else in the room, will help reduce any possible tension. While your team may have a specific expertise, taking away this edge will reduce a possible barrier that commonly occurs in the storming stage of Tuckman's theory. (Take away: Remove the EGO!)

Another essential piece of a successful multidisciplinary team is having a humble and selfless leader. Ideally the leader is obsessed with the success of the team and is unbelievably ambitious. These Level 5 Leaders generally can be described in the following words; humble, servant, modest, shy, understated, and mild-mannered. In accordance with the need to remain humble, effective leaders are able to admit mistakes and limitations and attribute praise where necessary. Humble leaders are able to improve the leader-follower relationship which results in the followers' greater commitment to contributing to the team unit. This relationship fosters the development of a shared group identity.

As the group becomes more stabilized, explicit and careful attention must be made to the cultural issues, both within your group as well as with the groups' interaction with others. Effecting the one down approach should help to avoid power struggles with the physician (or another authority/expert figure), which is very important not only for the patient but also for future consults. Remember, some physicians may regard mental health consults as a necessary and seemingly underutilized asset within the hospital domicile; however, some do not. Further, some may not even be aware such services exist! As the research suggests, utilization of mental health consultation in the hospital has evidenced 94.8% of individuals to experience an improvement in overall patient care and treatment. Not to mention a higher rating in patient satisfaction! So, while these findings may bolster you and your team's self-worth, keeping in mind the appreciation may not be universal is helpful (e.g., If the physician is the expert, then why would an outside team be necessary?).