- 7 November 2020
- Posted by: Erkan Sarıkaya
- Category: AGILE
Summary: Starting from the example of the 33 miners trapped 800 meters underground in Chile in 2010 and rescued after 70 days, this post looks at how a good team works in a VUCA world, through situational humility, curiosity, and psychological safety.
“Look to your left”
Look to your right, look to your left…
How quickly can you understand the unique talents, skills, and hopes of the person next to you?
And of course, you…
How quickly can you share yours with them in return?
It was 10 years ago. August 5, 2010…
A massive collapse in a copper mine in northern Chile…
left 33 people 800 meters beneath some of the hardest rock on earth.
There was no drilling solution to reach them…
After 70 days, every one of them was rescued safe and sound…
So how?
By working together as a good team…
In a VUCA world, amid uncertainty and chaos,
with our constantly changing schedules,
our limited expertise, and
the fact that we constantly have to work with others to get things done…
So how does a good team work?
- Situational Humility
- Curiosity
- Psychological Safety
So why is it hard, you ask?
- Thinking we already know
- Seeing others as rivals
To hear more, I’ll leave you with Amy Edmondson’s TED talk below, which is only 13 minutes long.
You can click here to watch it.
Erkan SARIKAYA
Enterprise Agile Coach
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the 2010 Chilean mining accident in the post illustrate?
On August 5, 2010, 33 people were trapped 800 meters underground in a copper mine in northern Chile; although there was no drilling solution, all of them were rescued safe and sound after 70 days. It is cited as an example of how good teamwork can deliver results under uncertainty.
According to the post, what are the characteristics of a good team?
Situational humility, curiosity, and psychological safety.
What makes good teamwork difficult?
According to the post, the main obstacles are thinking we already know and seeing others as rivals.
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Author: Erkan Sarıkaya — Enterprise Agile Coach, founder of GONEX. He writes on enterprise agile transformation, Scrum, and agile leadership coaching. Learn more on our About Us page, or read his other articles.