The seven characteristics of functional work relationships
One of the key contributors to a practice’s success is the presence of functional work relationships. Researchers point to seven characteristics that health care organizations should foster among physicians and staff.
| Characteristic | What it looks like |
|---|---|
| Trust | • Seeking input from others. • Allowing others to complete their work without unnecessary oversight. • Feeling comfortable discussing successes and failures. |
| Diversity | • Including people who have different backgrounds or perspectives. • Encouraging those who think differently about important issues to share their opinions. |
| Mindfulness | • Being open to new ideas. • Giving attention to and talking freely about what is and isn’t working. • Adjusting routines in response to current situations instead of running on autopilot. |
| Interrelatedness | • Considering current tasks as well as larger goals. • Being aware of individual roles and how they affect other functions and people in the practice. |
| Respect | • Being considerate, honest, and tactful • Valuing others’ opinions. |
| Varied interaction | • Understanding the importance of both social and task-related relationships. • Encouraging people to pursue activities outside of work. |
| Effective communication | • Understanding when certain methods of communication are more appropriate and timely than others. • Using “rich communication” (e.g., face-to-face meetings) for more sensitive matters. • Using “lean communication” (e.g., memos) for routine matters. |
Adapted from “Seven Characteristics of Successful Work Relationships.
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