Page 62 - Never Fly Solo

CHECK SIX | 35
fear arises, and the team lacks synergy. Inevitably, overall per-
formance suffers. But when people trust, miracles in produc-
tivity and morale can happen. In fast-paced, high-risk,
performance-demanding environments like the world of busi-
ness, tight and trustworthy coordination is critical because:

• Human beings make mistakes.
• We each have a limited perspective.
• We operate in stressful environments that lead to
tunnel vision and task saturation.
• Most professionals undervalue communication and
teamwork.
• Faulty communication can kill a mission as well as a
relationship.
• Errors increase when there is no definable set of
teamwork standards and skills.

An effective check-six environment frees up communication
and removes barriers to growth so that all members of the
team feel empowered to speak up and ask questions. Most
important, it creates a context in which feedback and objec-
tive criticism are received more openly and less defensively.
Team members become more engaged in processes and ser-
vice, while leaders benefit from the improved flow of vital
information up and down the chain of command.
A check-six environment also builds team confidence. It
is the experienced manager who goes on a big sales call with
the younger salesperson to provide support; it is the safety
spotter on a highway construction zone; and it is the officer
who pulls his squad car behind a fellow officer’s during a
routine traffic stop. It is the CEO who leaves his office empty
every afternoon to spend quality time on the floor and in the