Page 117 - 2020 JSOM Winter

An Ongoing Series

Optimizing Teamwork for Human Performance Teams

Strategies for Enhancing Team Effectiveness

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Gloria H. Park, PhD, MAPP *; Travis Lunasco, PsyD ;
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Rachel A. Chamberlin, PhD, MPH ; Patricia Deuster, PhD, MPH, FACSM 4

ABSTRACT
Human performance teams (HPTs) are highly capable and unit mission effectiveness. For this report, we define HPTs as
complex teams comprised of medical and performance profes- the multidisciplinary performance enhancement and health
sionals dedicated to supporting health and sustaining mission sustainment professionals who support combatant command-
capabilities of the Special Operations Forces (SOF) warfighter ers in optimizing the diverse talents of their warfighters to
community. As resources continue to be devoted to recruiting, accomplish their unit’s mission essential tasks. HPTs exist to
hiring, and organizing HPTs, there is an increased need to sup- enhance performance and increase the capabilities of opera-
port team-based capabilities, or their ability to work collabo- tional communities within SOF. Their driving mission is en-
ratively and cooperatively across boundaries. In this article, abling success and consistent execution of unit and warfighter
we draw on existing evidence-based approaches to support- mission essential tasks in support of national security efforts.
ing team-based competencies to present a set of strategies de-
signed to address barriers to cross-boundary teaming, catalyze Over the past decade, resources allocated to support the De-
innovation and precision of human performance optimization partment of Defense’s (DoD) HPTs have steadily increased and
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(HPO) service delivery, and maximize the impact of HPTs on will continue to do so to preserve warfighters’ diverse talents
warfighter medical and mission readiness. We begin by offer- and as long as the Armed Forces are “confronted with con-
ing a conceptual paradigm shift that broadens the lens through siderable, sustained, and diverse stressors that significantly
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which HPO intervention opportunities exist. We then explore impact the readiness of the force.” Working groups and con-
how to promote a common understanding of the needs, per- sensus meetings occurring across the DoD and various health
formance demands, and occupational risks, which should and performance support agencies have discussed the benefits
clarify shared goals and targets for service delivery. We also of HPTs and raised awareness of the need to enhance prac-
discuss a refined strategy for hiring and recruiting members titioner organization and efficacy. For example, the 2018
of HPTs, and finally, we propose opportunities for cultivating Performance Psychology Summit hosted by the Uniformed
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communication and collaboration across and within the HPO Services University’s Consortium for Health and Military
spectrum. By elevating HPT-based capabilities, the SOF com- Performance (CHAMP) and the Walter Reed Army Research
munity should be able to amplify the investment made in these Institute’s Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience
invaluable resources. (WRAIR-CMPN) highlighted discussions on how to best de-
fine and understand performance psychology, how to organize
Keywords: human performance teams; human performance psychology professionals from across subspecialties to best
optimization; mission readiness; operational readiness; serve warfighters, and how to better prepare competent prac-
teaming; teamwork titioners for roles within the military. As resources continue to
be used for hiring, training, and deploying performance assets
to serve operational communities, several key questions have
emerged from those in HPT roles, program managers, leaders,
Introduction
and warfighters within the SOF community:
The hiring and mobilization of HPTs represent changes in or-
ganizational business practices outlined in the 2018 National • How should we determine HPT competencies, the scope
Defense Strategy (NDS) toward optimizing warfighter and of practice, needed training, and staffing requirements?
*Correspondence to Consortium for Health and Military Performance, DoD Center of Excellence, Department of Military and Emergency Med-
icine, Hébert School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University, 4301 Jones Bridge Rd, Bethesda, MD, 20814; or gloria.park.ctr@usuhs.edu
1 Dr Park is the director of performance psychology, Dr Lunasco is the director of HPO future operations/senior human performance integrator,
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3 Dr Chamberlin is the senior anthropologist and a human performance optimization integrator, and Dr Deuster is a professor and director, all
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at the Consortium for Health and Military Performance in the Department of Military and Emergency Medicine, Hébert School of Medicine at
the Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD.
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