Dr Preston Cline; Navigating Uncertainty

Insights from Mission Critical Teams

Martin and Jonpaul speak with Dr. Preston Cline, co-founder and principal of the Mission Critical Team Institute. They discuss the characteristics of effective mission-critical teams, how to improve cohesion and facilitate within-career transitions, both into and out of these high-stress roles.

Preston is the co-founder and principal at the Mission Critical Team Institute, where he also serves as the director of research. He co-founded the Mission Critical Team Institute to support the instructor cadres of small teams that comprise indigenously trained and educated experts who perform in high-pressure environments where the consequences of failure can be catastrophic. He has supported military special operations, emergency medicine, tactical law enforcement, aerospace, and urban and wilderness firefighting organisations.

• MCTI Resources https://missioncti.com/resources/
• MCTI Teamcast https://teamcast.missioncti.com

01:57 Preston Cline’s Background and Career Journey

04:16 Defining Mission Critical Teams

09:44 Characteristics of Successful Teams

13:17 The Importance of Hardship and Adversity

15:43 The Mission Critical Team Institute

18:49 Navigating Uncertainty in High-Stress Environments

27:30 Building Cohesion in Tactical Swarms

30:14 The Importance of After Action Reviews

32:50 Challenges with the Post-COVID Generation

34:53 The Role of Introversion and Extroversion

36:07 Training Environment and White Space

40:01 Data Discipline and Technology Addiction

42:50 Onboarding New Team Members

46:44 Career Transitions and Mental Health