Table 1

Categories and elements of non-technical skills

CategoryDefinitionElements
Situation awareness’The perception of the elements in the environment within a volume of time and space, the comprehension of their meaning and the projection of their status in the near future.'7

  • ’Gathering information,

  • interpreting information,

  • anticipating future states.'7

Decision-making’Decision-making can be defined as the process of reaching a judgement or choosing an option, sometimes called a course of action, to meet the needs of a given situation.'7

  • ’Situation assessment—defining problem,

  • generating and considering one or more response options,

  • selecting and implementing an option,

  • outcome review.'7

Communication’Communication is the exchange of information, feedback or response, ideas and feelings. It provides knowledge, institutes relationships, establishes predictable behaviour patterns, maintains attention to the task, and is a management tool.'7

  • ’Send information clearly and concisely,

  • include context and intent during information exchange,

  • receive information especially by listening,

  • identify and address barriers to communication.'7

Team working’The definition of a team, according to Salas et al. (1992: p4), is: a distinguishable set of two or more people who interact, dynamically, interdependently, and adaptively toward a common and valued goal/objective/mission, who have each been assigned specific roles or functions to perform, and who have a limited life-span of membership.'7

  • ’Support others,

  • solve conflicts,

  • exchange information and

  • coordinate activities.

Teamwork behaviour:

  • performance monitoring,

  • feedback,

  • closed loop communication,

  • backing up behaviours.

Team performance norms:

  • team self-awareness,

  • fostering team interdependence.'7

Leadership’Team leadership is about directing and co-ordinating the activities of team members; encouraging them to work together; assessing performance; assigning tasks; developing team knowledge, skills and abilities; motivating; planning and organising; and establishing a positive team atmosphere.'7

  • ’Use authority,

  • maintain standards,

  • plan and prioritise,

  • manage workload and resources.'7

Managing stress’A particular relationship between the person and the environment that is appraised by the person as taxing or exceeding his or her resources and endangering his or her wellbeing.'7

  • ’Identify causes,

  • recognise symptoms and effects,

  • implement coping strategies.'7

Coping with fatigue’The state of tiredness which is associated with long hours of work, prolonged periods without sleep, requirements to work at times which are "out of sync" with the body’s biological or Circadian rhythms.'7

  • ’Identify causes of fatigue,

  • recognise effects of fatigue

  • implement coping strategies.'7