Merlin Lopez, an electrical coordinator working on the ALS-U Upgrade project, has only been at the Lab for six months, but has already spearheaded a cost-projection effort to help streamline the purchase of electrical equipment for the project. He enjoys the people he works with and the challenge of the work, but what he’s really happy about is the no-car commute he now has. Rides on … [Read more...]
Three Questions For NERSC’s Cory Snavely on Psychological Safety
Of the five key components of effective teams that have been identified by researchers at Google, psychological safety is the most critical. The term “team psychological safety” was introduced by Harvard organizational behavioral scientist Amy Edmondson in 1999; she defined it as “a shared belief held by members of a team that the team is safe for interpersonal risk-taking.” In Edmondson’s … [Read more...]
Three Question For LaTonja Wright on Team Effectiveness
There are five components to team effectiveness that create, foster, and empower a team: Psychological safety Dependability Structure and Clarity Meaning Impact These components can be put into practice by establishing a common vocabulary, creating a forum to discuss team dynamics, and making a commitment to reinforcing this behavior with the team. LaTonja Wright puts … [Read more...]
Three Questions For Lab Emergency Manager Tonya Petty
The Lab’s unique location and geography put three disasters that might befall the Lab --- earthquakes, wildfires, and landslides -- at the top of the list of worries for Lab Emergency Manager Tonya Petty. Tonya leads the Lab’s Emergency Management team, which has the primary responsibility for preparing for, responding to, and recovering from such disasters. Tonya and her team oversee the 700 … [Read more...]
Three Questions for Daniel Gens on Accountability
Accountability is an important part of the Lab’s focus on inclusion, diversity, and equity. Improving our diverse representation and integrating our IDEA culture to make the Lab even more welcoming is going to take time and commitment. Accountability -- the actions we feel responsible for taking -- formalizes that commitment. Everyone can participate in creating and promoting an accountable work … [Read more...]