A seminal study in safety makes the value of habitual collaboration clear. Post-moon-landing NASA researchers studied how to improve air flight safety. In one study, cockpit crews made up of a pilot, copilot, and navigator participated in flight simulations in which a potential crash situation occurred. The study found that pilots who acted swiftly and decisively based on gut feelings were much more likely to crash the plane than pilots who turned to other crew members for their reading of the situation before deciding how to respond.
In a look at underlying causes, the researchers found that the condition necessary for crew members to speak up and wasn’t whether the pilot asked for others' opinions during the crash simulations, but whether the crew had a history of open exchanges with the pilot. Crewmembers voiced their opinions to pilots who had habitually solicited their input. In other words, without a culture of open candor established, pilots found themselves on their own when they most needed the help.
-- Keith Ferrazzi
