Physician Leadership Journal Peer reviewed
Shaping Your Healthcare Team at Every Level
Effective communication is vital for healthcare teams to prevent errors, burnout, and poor outcomes. Self-awareness, connection-building, and recognition foster collaboration and resilience.
July/August 2026 Vol. 13, No. 4 pp. 17–21 DOI: 10.55834/plj.3491438387
Abstract
Effective communication is crucial for strong healthcare teams. Lack of clear communication can lead to medical errors, burnout, and worse patient outcomes. Structured tools like I-PASS and SBAR help with information exchange but do not address emotional dynamics or relationships. By fostering self-awareness, building connections, and recognizing colleagues, clinicians can improve team communication, manage conflict, and create a sense of belonging. In today’s collaborative healthcare environment, these skills are vital for safer, coordinated patient care and resilient, high-performing teams. This article proposes that harnessing self-awareness, building meaningful connections, and amplifying colleagues can catalyze the development of stronger communication within the healthcare team. This framework provides leaders with practical strategies to cultivate resilient, communicative, and high-performing teams.