Build Trust and Collaboration in Multidisciplinary Teams
Key Takeaways
- Trust is essential for collaboration in high-risk environments.
- Open communication bridges gaps between diverse disciplines.
- Psychological safety fosters innovation and prevents accidents.
- Leaders play a key role in building trust and promoting collaboration.
- Leveraging diverse perspectives leads to better problem-solving and operational efficiency.
The Role of Trust in High-Risk Environments
Fostering Open Communication
- Create a Common Language: Encourage clear, simple language that everyone can understand. Avoid technical jargon when possible and ensure everyone grasps key concepts across all disciplines.
- Facilitate Regular Meetings: Schedule regular team meetings for updates, questions and feedback, where everyone has a chance to contribute.
- Promote Active Listening: Encourage team members to practice active listening, where they fully engage with what others are saying rather than preparing their response while someone else is speaking. This helps to build respect and understanding across disciplines.
- Encourage Questioning and Clarification: Create an environment where team members feel comfortable asking questions and seeking clarification. This will not only reduce misunderstandings but also foster a culture of continuous learning.
Leveraging Diverse Perspectives
Promoting Psychological Safety
- Encouraging Openness: Encourage team members to share their ideas, even if unconventional or outside their area of expertise. Recognize and reward creative thinking and innovation.
- Responding to Mistakes with Empathy: Focus on learning from mistakes rather than assigning blame, creating a safe environment for admitting errors.
- Creating a Feedback Culture: Regularly solicit feedback from team members and be open to adjust. This demonstrates that everyone’s opinions are valued and that the team is working toward a common goal.
- Modeling Vulnerability: Leaders should admit their own mistakes and uncertainties — this sets the tone for the rest of the team showing that it’s okay to be imperfect.
Building Strong Leadership in Multidisciplinary Teams
- Actively Engaging with Team Members: Spend time understanding each team member’s strengths, challenges and perspectives. This builds rapport and mutual respect.
- Setting Clear Expectations: Ensure that everyone understands their role within the team and how their work contributes to the team’s overall goals.
- Encouraging Cross-Disciplinary Learning: Promote opportunities for team members to learn from each other and develop a better understanding of different disciplines.
Lead with Trust

Lauren Neal | Founder and Chief Program Creator, Valued at Work
Lauren Neal is the Founder of Valued at Work – a consultancy that creates workplace cultures where no one wants to leave, in traditionally male-dominated sectors.
Since 2005, Lauren has worked as an engineer and project manager in the energy sector offshore, onshore and onsite on multimillion-dollar projects across the globe. Chartered through both the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) and the Association of Project Management (APM), Lauren is a sought-after speaker, writer, and consultant championing career progression within STEM and inclusive workplace cultures beyond the boundaries of demographics.
Lauren’s book released in October 2023 – 'Valued at Work: Shining a Light on Bias to Engage, Enable, and Retain Women in STEM' – became an Amazon #1 best-seller and is a finalist in the 2024 Business Book Awards.
Click here to reach out to Lauren.