2023 Community of Human and Organizational Learning 29th Annual Conference

Inclusive, high-performing team cultures are critical to the success of organizations in today’s diverse and globalized workforce. Inclusion and high-performance are even more crucial for teams that conduct hazardous work because these teams need to leverage the expertise of all of their members to generate innovative responses to complex conditions, and to remain vigilant about emerging hazards. However creating such a culture can be a challenge requring deliberate, intentional efforts to overcome biases, build trust, and promote collaboration. This presentation combines empirical research and best practices to highlight key elements of designing an inclusive, high-performing team culture.

First, we will examine the role of diversity and how it can be leveraged to to enhance innovation and safety, and to improve decision-making.

Second, we will discuss key logistical considerations in designing a team culture (e.g., adherence to hierarchy, collective vs. dispersed staffing patterns), and ways to translate team-level principles and core values into action across groups and sites.

Third, we will discuss the importance of leadership modeling the behaviors that foster inclusion, and communicating clearly and transparently about fostering and maintaining an inclusive culture. I will illustrate all of these ideas using examples from my research on US federal wildland firefighting crews.