Defining the Scope Starting off on the right foot is essential with interdisciplinary collaboration. After defining what the goal is you have to know who can bring certain knowledge to each individual moving part of the collaboration.

Define Collaborative Goals: - Start by setting goals that require cross-disciplinary collaboration to achieve. These objectives should highlight the importance of teamwork and ensure that success is not just measured by individual contributions but by how well the team works together across different fields. Clear, shared goals create a unified focus, making it easier to recognize collaborative efforts.

Team members should be familiar with each other's strengths and weaknesses in order to divide responsibilities efficiently and work towards the objectives.

Recognize Small and Large Successes Recognizing and rewarding the team along the way for their success and contributions is key to having and promoting great morale. It makes the team feel valued which helps in productivity.

Celebrate Collaborative Milestones - Recognition doesn’t have to wait until the end of a project. Celebrate key milestones along the way, especially those that demonstrate effective collaboration. Whether through team shout-outs, small celebrations, or even just a public acknowledgment, recognizing these moments reinforces the value of working together and keeps morale high.

Reward Collaborative Behavior - Tailor rewards to emphasize the importance of teamwork. This could include team-based bonuses, collaborative awards, or even opportunities for professional development that benefit the whole group. By linking rewards directly to interdisciplinary collaboration, you signal that this type of work is not just encouraged but essential.

Facilitate Cross-Disciplinary Learning - Encourage team members to step outside their own specialties by providing opportunities for cross-disciplinary learning. This might include workshops, cross-training sessions, or job-shadowing opportunities. Recognizing and rewarding those who actively engage in learning from other disciplines reinforces a culture of continuous improvement and teamwork.

Highlight Diverse Contributions - Make it a point to publicly recognize the unique contributions that come from different disciplines within the team. By highlighting how these diverse perspectives contribute to the team’s success, you build a culture that values and respects the strengths that each discipline brings to the table.

Reflect on Collaborative Success - After completing a project, take time to reflect on the collaborative process. Discuss what worked well, where challenges arose, and how the team can improve in the future. This reflection should be part of the reward process, acknowledging not just the end result but the journey of collaboration itself. By doing so, you reinforce the importance of continuous learning and adaptation in interdisciplinary work.

Reflection is not something that should only be done at the end of a project, but intermittently during one. The team should set time aside to evaluate their progress together - what is going well and what needs more focus time. Team members should be accountable to each other on their individual responsibilities, and this reflection time can also serve as a checkpoint for this.

Interdisciplinary teams should work together on important projects and also manage to foster good workplace relationships at the same time. When one has a team member or two that they feel sees their strengths, that team member's contribution to the team is greatly increased. In some ways, team members should stay within their scope of practice/knowledge for safety and oversight, but in other ways, team members should advocate for expanded scope of practice and growth opportunities for team members who come from a different profession.