Learning from Critical Incidents By Ad Hoc Teams: The Impact of Storytelling on Psychological Safety

Abstract

This study was motivated to learn more about the effects of team leader behaviors in learning conversations on team psychological safety. Through an exploration of the literatures on psychological safety, storytelling, and action science, I generated a set of testable hypotheses concerning the effects of team leaders on psychological safety. Utilizing data collected on team learning conversations in medical teams following critical incidents, I tested these hypotheses and found a significant positive effect of the team leaders’ use of storytelling on team psychological safety. This research makes a contribution to our understanding of the interplay among team leaders, storytelling, and psychological safety in temporary teams. I examined a group of strangers thrust into a highly stressful critical incident, where there were great reputational risks associated with making mistakes, and then observed as this newly- formed team worked to make sense of and learn from this critical incident. By pushing to the e...