Promoting Team Success Through Reflection on Communication Needs.

Abstract

Background: Graduate nursing students often face challenges in team-based projects due to diverse backgrounds and learning styles. Team charter development is helpful for making expectations clear, but it misses a critical step of self-reflection and shared understanding that can further improve team functioning.

Method: This innovation integrated a communication needs reflection exercise, based on the Birkman Method, into team charter meetings in a graduate-level course. Students reflect on their communication needs individually before sharing and discussing strategies for respectful engagement as a team.

Results: Incorporating reflection on communication needs into team charters was well received. The process can enhance self-awareness and respect for diversity of communication needs within teams.

Conclusion: Implementation of a structured process for self-reflection and sharing in team charters is a low-effort teaching innovation with the potential for high results. Formalizing a process of self-reflection and sharing has the potential to increase student self-awareness and respect for diversity. [J Nurs Educ. 2025;64(X):XXX-XXX.].