Military Psychology:
Teams and Teamwork
Dr. Steven J. Kass
Military Psychology
Importance of Teamwork
Importance of Teamwork
1. Readiness – coordination/communication in
stressful war environment
2. Adaptation – ability to adapt to changing
demands of a wider range of missions
3. 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
life-span 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:
1.
Taskwork – individual competencies (KSAs)
necessary to do the job
2.
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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Skills:
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Task specific teammate characteristics
Shared task models
Teamwork skills
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
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Focus on outcome may be rewarding flawed
processes.
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Assess both:
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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
1. Observational Checklists/Rating Scales
2. Content Analysis
3. Critical Incidents
4. Automated Performance Recording
5. After Action Reviews
Military Psychology
Team Performance Measurement
Effective Team Performance Measurement, should:
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Identify processes linked to key outcomes
2.
Distinguish between individual and team level
contributions and deficiencies
3.
Produce assessment to be used for providing
feedback to team
4.
Produce accurate and reliable evaluations
5.
Be easy to implement
Military Psychology
Team Training Techniques
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Cross-Training – learn KSAs of other team
tasks by rotating positions
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Learn contribution of each task to “big picture”
Allows teammates to anticipate others’ actions
Helps provide backup and flexibility
Military Psychology
Team Training Techniques
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Aircrew Coordination Training – increase
crew’s awareness of need for coordination
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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
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Guided Team Self-Correction – feedback to
teammates by leader to allow team to identify
its own problems
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Feedback should:
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Enable each member to perform his/her task
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
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Team Adaptation & Coordination Training
– training method to help teams deal with
stressful environment/task
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Provide team member with info on how to best
optimize:
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Preplanning sessions
Idle periods
Info dissemination
Info anticipation
Redistribution of workload
Military Psychology
Team Training Techniques
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Assertiveness Training – training to
improve team members’ willingness to state
concerns assertively
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Important for:
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Providing feedback
Stating opinions
Offering solutions
Initiating action
Offering/Requesting help or backup
Military Psychology
Team Training Techniques
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Team Leader Training – training to help
leaders in their position to monitor, control,
and decisions on behalf of team
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Involves managing team climate – norms &
expectations of team members and their
interactions