Teamwork is one of the most crucial skills that a
member of cabin crew requires and without this a cabin crew team cannot
work efficiently or at their best ability. It is essential not only for
day to day practices but also in case an emergency occurs – that is when
you being part of a team can be a life saver – literally.
If, there is no teamwork onboard not only will service suffer
and the passengers will notice it but in an emergency situation – it
does not bear thinking about! So, how can you as a member of crew do
your best to contribute to your team and promote best practice onboard?
Here we can take a look at some examples…
The crew briefing is the place to start
Here you will meet your crew members and senior crew member who you may well never have met before. Be friendly and courteous and remember you will be working in close proximity for the next 12hours plus, so try your best to create a good impression. You will receive your designated position for the flight and understand your place within the team.
Your SCCM may also question or run through emergency procedures that are essential to understand to be performed to their best ability. You may also meet the flight crew, so it is nice to make a note of their names and any special notices/requests.
During the flight
Of course, during your flight you need to work closely together to perform the safety and security checks required and plan for the flight ahead.
These are absolutely non-negotiable and missing them or not performing them correctly can be very damaging to your team. What would happen if you didn’t check the fire extinguisher was serviceable and then there was a galley fire? You will also provide efficient service to the passengers, whichever class you work in or whether you are cabin or galley based.
Although most services are fairly standard and with good communication and awareness most small problems can be ironed out almost immediately – maybe a passenger did not receive their vegetarian meal or you have run out of coffee, a team member will usually be there immediately to help you. While you continue the service, another crew member can be bringing you another pot of coffee or finding a spare vegetarian meal from business class.
Communication is the key
Although, difficult for some, communication with the flight crew is an important factor - especially within some cultures where it may seem inappropriate to communicate with them according to rank and cultural status etc. You may have to communicate with them on a regular basis if you are working in the forward galley or during a flight you may see something - ice on the wing or maybe smell an electrical smell for example… which must be immediately reported for safety reasons and you must have the confidence to do so. During your training, you will be told how and when this is appropriate and not to be afraid to report anything suspicious.
Crew Resource Management
During your airline training you will learn about CRM (Crew Resource Management) and Human Factors. This emphasizes the importance of communication and teamwork between all crew members and flight crew. You will learn how emergency situations occur due to a chain of events and how lapses in team work and communication can add negatively to the scenario. You will understand how your role in the team can prevent a potential scenario, control a threat and survive an emergency if at all possible.
As mentioned previously, your designated role for your flight in the day will give you certain duties to perform in an emergency including briefing passengers, equipment retrieval and location for evacuation. You will also learn during training, various drills for emergencies that have assigned roles including medical situations (assessor, collector, teller, support) or for a fire fighting scenario (firefighter, communicator, collector and passenger controller.) These titles vary airline to airline.
A happy successful team = happy passengers
Great teamwork not only makes a happy successful team, but reflects well on the passengers and the airline. This is turn promotes passenger confidence in regards to the safety and service that the airline offers, therefore repeat business. Remember that it is crucial to have teamwork in a potential emergency situation and shows your success in dealing with it effectively and at the end of the day, you may have to trust a crew member with your own life – could you do that?
On a bright positive note, being part of a great team not only makes work more fun and efficient but enables a safer and more secure environment for all, whether you are working onboard, staying down-route or flying as a passenger. Teamwork and cabin crew are very much hand in hand, so we should appreciate it and make it especially important to our every day work life.
The crew briefing is the place to start
Here you will meet your crew members and senior crew member who you may well never have met before. Be friendly and courteous and remember you will be working in close proximity for the next 12hours plus, so try your best to create a good impression. You will receive your designated position for the flight and understand your place within the team.
Your SCCM may also question or run through emergency procedures that are essential to understand to be performed to their best ability. You may also meet the flight crew, so it is nice to make a note of their names and any special notices/requests.
During the flight
Of course, during your flight you need to work closely together to perform the safety and security checks required and plan for the flight ahead.
These are absolutely non-negotiable and missing them or not performing them correctly can be very damaging to your team. What would happen if you didn’t check the fire extinguisher was serviceable and then there was a galley fire? You will also provide efficient service to the passengers, whichever class you work in or whether you are cabin or galley based.
Although most services are fairly standard and with good communication and awareness most small problems can be ironed out almost immediately – maybe a passenger did not receive their vegetarian meal or you have run out of coffee, a team member will usually be there immediately to help you. While you continue the service, another crew member can be bringing you another pot of coffee or finding a spare vegetarian meal from business class.
Communication is the key
Although, difficult for some, communication with the flight crew is an important factor - especially within some cultures where it may seem inappropriate to communicate with them according to rank and cultural status etc. You may have to communicate with them on a regular basis if you are working in the forward galley or during a flight you may see something - ice on the wing or maybe smell an electrical smell for example… which must be immediately reported for safety reasons and you must have the confidence to do so. During your training, you will be told how and when this is appropriate and not to be afraid to report anything suspicious.
Crew Resource Management
During your airline training you will learn about CRM (Crew Resource Management) and Human Factors. This emphasizes the importance of communication and teamwork between all crew members and flight crew. You will learn how emergency situations occur due to a chain of events and how lapses in team work and communication can add negatively to the scenario. You will understand how your role in the team can prevent a potential scenario, control a threat and survive an emergency if at all possible.
As mentioned previously, your designated role for your flight in the day will give you certain duties to perform in an emergency including briefing passengers, equipment retrieval and location for evacuation. You will also learn during training, various drills for emergencies that have assigned roles including medical situations (assessor, collector, teller, support) or for a fire fighting scenario (firefighter, communicator, collector and passenger controller.) These titles vary airline to airline.
A happy successful team = happy passengers
Great teamwork not only makes a happy successful team, but reflects well on the passengers and the airline. This is turn promotes passenger confidence in regards to the safety and service that the airline offers, therefore repeat business. Remember that it is crucial to have teamwork in a potential emergency situation and shows your success in dealing with it effectively and at the end of the day, you may have to trust a crew member with your own life – could you do that?
On a bright positive note, being part of a great team not only makes work more fun and efficient but enables a safer and more secure environment for all, whether you are working onboard, staying down-route or flying as a passenger. Teamwork and cabin crew are very much hand in hand, so we should appreciate it and make it especially important to our every day work life.