Why even the smartest teams fail: it is rarely a technical problem.
In short: Psychology professor Tessa West explains why teams often collapse due to communication failures rather than technical errors. Drawing on the 1999 NASA Mars mission, she reveals how hidden assumptions and overlooked details sabotage collaboration, offering small, actionable shifts to improve how information is shared and received.
The 1999 failure of a NASA mission to Mars serves as a primary example of how organizational communication can break down. Rather than a technical glitch, the mission was compromised because team members failed to communicate effectively. West highlights that teams often suffer from 'hidden languages' and unexamined assumptions that prevent critical information from landing correctly.
By addressing these subtle interpersonal dynamics, teams can avoid the pitfalls that lead to high-stakes failures. The talk explores how minor adjustments in how we speak and listen can fundamentally change team outcomes, ensuring that intelligence is not wasted through poor coordination.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: The Surprisingly Simple Reason Teams Fail | Tessa West | TED
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