Evidence-based recommendations and related risk points
| Risk points | Recommendations and tips to address risk points | For whom | ||
| Management | Team leaders | Team members | ||
| Uncertainty or doubt that team can succeed; poor collective efficacy | 1. Recognise wins and successes—large and small. | |||
| Communicate wins within the team. | X | |||
| Share success stories across teams. | X | |||
| Congratulate teammates when they successfully overcome a challenge. | X | X | ||
| Competing or inconsistent mental models ; narrowing of attention | 2. Ensure the team sustains shared mental models (SMM). | |||
| Conduct quick, periodic prebriefs and huddles. | X | |||
| Ensure thoughtful cross-shift/cross-team handoffs. | X | X | ||
| Ask questions when you become unsure about priorities or expectations. | X | |||
| Manifestation of schisms, fault lines ; silos | 3. Don’t forget the people behind the scenes. | |||
| Acknowledge the contributions of those in supporting roles. | X | |||
| Recognise people who help your team (eg, who find resources or deal with a problem). | X | X | ||
| Insufficient monitoring, vigilance, backup; narrowing of attention ; low psychological safety | 4. Emphasise and promote team mutual monitoring. | |||
| Begin a shift or prebrief with a reminder about what to monitor. | X | |||
| Proactively ask if you can help, particularly with teammates who may be in an unfamiliar role. | X | X | ||
| Thank people when they offer feedback or assistance, even if you didn’t need it. | X | X | ||
| Discomfort with speaking up; lack of psychological safety ; failing to ask questions or admit concerns | 5. Take actions that build and sustain psychological safety. | |||
| Acknowledge where you can improve and admit when you have questions. | X | X | X | |
| Thank others when they admit a mistake or offering a dissenting view. | X | X | X | |
| Narrowing of attention; overfocus on self; reduced vigilance | 6. Help team members address concerns with their ‘home team’ (if possible). | |||
| Seek ways to help team member’s family (financial, informational or emotional assistance). | X | |||
| Be a good listener to teammate’s problems. | X | X | ||
| Setbacks adversely affecting readiness to perform subsequent tasks; low team resilience | 7. Consciously boost team resilience. | |||
| Anticipate, plan for and attempt to address stressors, surges and likely setbacks. | X | X | ||
| Quickly identify what is not working and encourage adaptations. | X | X | ||
| Apologise for dysfunctional behaviours that occurred under stress. | X | X | ||
| Smartly and ‘intentionally’ shift the team from normal to emergency modes as appropriate. | X | |||