A critical reflection on improving effective team communication

Abstract

Objective This paper aims at critically reflecting on the author’s personal experience in the context of communication within a nursing team and exploring relevant existing constraints with a view to improving practice and achieving more effective outcomes in team communication. Methods Critical emancipatory reflection is used to evaluate and interpret the author’s practice. Smyth’s model serves as a framework to guide critical reflection step by step in this paper. Relevant theoretical perspectives help to make sense of the author’s performance in terms of team communication. Results It is identified via emancipatory reflection that the author endorses the ideas of equality, respect, trust, and collaboration, which were formed and established during the process of professional socialization. However, different constraints, such as sociocultural, historical, political, and personal factors, impede the author from performing more effectively in terms of team communication. Reconstruction provides the author opportunities to take actions to rectify constraints and avoid the reemergence of previous situations in the future. Conclusions Reflection is an effective way to gather knowledge and develop comprehensive understanding of practice. Alternative actions for effective team communication are recommended, including formulating ground rules for discussion, guiding nurses in the correct way, transforming conflicts within a team, being an active and reflective listener, and motivating nurses to actively create.