1/ One thing astronauts have to be good at: living in confined
spaces for long periods of time. Find yourself in a similar scenario? Here are
some pro tips...a thread.

2/ 20 years of successful living and working on @Space_Station did not happen by accident. Through lessons learned, @NASA astronaut @AstroPeggy and psychologist Dr. Al Holland examined what human behaviors create a healthy culture for living and working remotely in small groups.

3/ They narrowed it to 5 general skills, and defined the associated behaviors for each skill. We @NASA_Astronauts now call them “Expeditionary Behaviors,” and they are part of everything we do. When it goes well, it’s called #GoodEB. Here they are:

4/ Skill 1, Communication:
Def: To talk so you are clearly understood. To listen and
question to understand. Actively listen, pick up on non-verbal cues. Identify,
discuss, then work to resolve conflict.

5/ #GoodEB: Share info/feelings freely. Talk about intentions before taking action. Use good terminology. Discuss when your or others’ actions were not as expected. Debrief after success or conflict. Listen, then restate message to ensure its understood. Admit when you’re wrong.

6/ Skill 2, Leadership/Followership:
Def: How well a team adapts to new situations. Leader enhances the group’s ability to execute its purpose through positive influence. Follower (aka
subordinate leader) actively contributes to leader’s direction. Establish
environment of trust.

7/ #GoodEB: Accept responsibility. Adjust style to environment. Assign tasks, set goals. Lead by example. Give direction, info, feedback, coaching + encouragement. Ensure teammates have resources. Talk when something isn’t right. Ask questions. Offer solutions, not just problems.

8/ Skill 3, Self-Care:
Def: How healthy you are on psychological and physical levels, including hygiene, managing time and personal stuff, getting sleep, and maintaining mood. The ability and willingness to be proactive to stay healthy.

9/ #GoodEB: Realistically assess own strengths and weaknesses, and their influence on the group. Learn from mistakes. Take action to mitigate stress or negativity (don't pass on to the group). Be social. Seek feedback. Balance work, rest, and personal time. Be organized.

10/ Skill 4, Team Care:
Def: How healthy the group is on psychological, physical, and logistical level.
Manage group stress, fatigue, sickness, supplies, resources, workload, etc. Nurture optimal team performance despite challenges.

11/ #GoodEB: Demonstrate patience and respect. Encourage others. Monitor team for signs of stress or fatigue. Encourage participation in team activities. Develop positive relationships. Volunteer for the unpleasant tasks. Offer and accept help. Share the credit; take the blame.

12/ Skill 5, Group Living:
Def: How people cooperate and become a team to achieve a
goal. Identify and manage different opinions, cultures, perceptions, skills, and
personalities. Individuals and group demonstrate resiliency in the face of difficulty.

13/ #GoodEB: Cooperate rather than compete. Actively cultivate group culture (use each individual's culture to build the whole). Respect roles, responsibilities, and workload. Take accountability, give praise freely. Work to ensure positive team attitude. Keep calm in conflict.

14/ That's it! We are all astronauts on planet Earth together. We'll be successful in confinement if we are intentional about our actions and deliberate about caring for our teams. Now, please reply and share some examples of #GoodEB that you've seen - and stay #EarthStrong

15/ Here it is, rolled up in one article: http://www.nasa.gov/feature/an-astronaut-s-tips-for-living-in-space-or-anywhere

16/ And here you can find more resources on these topics, like videos describing some of the skills and activities you can do with your kids to teach them: https://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/stem-on-station/expeditionary-skills-for-life.html