Dr. Steven J. Kass

Importance of Teamwork
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Readiness – coordination/communication in stressful war environment
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Adaptation – ability to adapt to changing demands of a wider range of missions
Task Complexity – teams are called upon to perform tasks that:
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Require quick decision making in complex environs
Have severe consequences of error
Are performed under ambiguous situations

Military Psychology
Team Defined
Team – “…a distinguishable set of two or more people who interact dynamically, interdependently, and adaptively toward a common goal/objective/mission, who have each been assigned specific roles or functions to perform, and who have a limited lifespan of membership” (Salas et al., 1992)

Military Psychology
Team Characteristics
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2 or more members
Members possess multiple sources of info
Tasks are interdependent (sequential, pooled, or reciprocal)
Members must coordinate efforts
Members share compatible values/goals/objectives
Members have specialized roles
Team is hierarchically structured (team leader)
Communication crucial
Team develops strategies to adapt to change

Military Psychology
Teamwork
Teams must complete:
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Taskwork – individual competencies (KSAs) necessary to do the job
Teamwork – competencies associated with being an effective team member
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Motivating teammates
Providing backup/support
Monitoring one another
Self-correcting
Shifting strategy on demand

Military Psychology
Team Competencies
Identify team competencies through Team Task Analysis
 Knowledge:
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Task specific teammate characteristics
Shared task models
Teamwork skills
Skills:
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Adaptability
Shared situation awareness
Mutual performance monitoring
Motivating team members/leadership
Communication
Assertiveness
 Attitudes:
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Collective efficacy (Potency)
Shared vision
Team cohesion
Cannon-Bowers et al., 1995)

Military Psychology
Measuring Team Performance
 Focus on outcome may be rewarding flawed processes.
– Assess both:
 Taskwork and Teamwork
 Outcomes (winning, accuracy, efficiency, etc.) and
Process (communication, coordination, support, etc.)

Military Psychology
Measuring Team Performance
Measurement process
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Describe individual and team behavior
Evaluate behavior
Diagnose causes of behavior

Military Psychology
Team Performance
Assessment Tools
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Observational Checklists/Rating Scales
Content Analysis
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Critical Incidents
Automated Performance Recording
After Action Reviews

Military Psychology
Team Performance Measurement
Effective Team Performance Measurement, should:
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Identify processes linked to key outcomes
Distinguish between individual and team level contributions and deficiencies
Produce assessment to be used for providing feedback to team
Produce accurate and reliable evaluations
Be easy to implement

Military Psychology
Team Training Techniques
 Cross-Training – learn KSAs of other team tasks by rotating positions
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Learn contribution of each task to “big picture”
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Allows teammates to anticipate others’ actions
– Helps provide backup and flexibility

Military Psychology
Team Training Techniques
 Aircrew Coordination Training – increase crew’s awareness of need for coordination
– Provide crews with info about teamwork skills
– Demonstrate behaviors via video recording
– Provide opportunities to practice
– Receive feedback on performance

Military Psychology
Team Training Techniques
 Guided Team Self-Correction – feedback to teammates by leader to allow team to identify its own problems
– Feedback should:
 Enable each member to perform his/her task
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Demonstrate how individual’s performance contributes to that of other
Demonstrate how individual’s performance contributes to that of team

Military Psychology
Team Training Techniques
 Team Adaptation & Coordination Training
– training method to help teams deal with stressful environment/task
– Provide team member with info on how to best optimize:
 Preplanning sessions
 Idle periods
 Info dissemination
 Info anticipation
 Redistribution of workload

Military Psychology
Team Training Techniques
 Assertiveness Training – training to improve team members’ willingness to state concerns assertively
– Important for:
 Providing feedback
 Stating opinions
 Offering solutions
 Initiating action
 Offering/Requesting help or backup

Military Psychology
Team Training Techniques
 Team Leader Training – training to help leaders in their position to monitor, control, and decisions on behalf of team
– Involves managing team climate – norms & expectations of team members and their interactions