Positive Peer Pressure

The US Navy is known for its selection, training, and enablement of some of the most talented aviators in the world who perform some of the most challenging and dangerous feats in aviation.

At the top of the list is the task of landing on the pitching deck of an aircraft carrier.  The task itself is one of the most precise and taxing asks of a Naval Aviator, and one that gathers further gravitas when the pilot has to consider the fact that, not only will they be graded on their landing, but that the debrief will be public, and the grade posted in the squadron’s “ready room” (common area) for all to see.

The landing grade system is simple but effective. After every landing on a carrier, pilots are given a grade based on a GPA scale, from zero to 4.0, depending on the quality and safety of the pass (approach and landing).   The grades, after being publicly debriefed with the pilot, are then posted on the ready room’s “greenie board” (a board where each pilot has a row displaying a colored chip indicating their grade for each landing of the deployment).  These grades will remain displayed for public consumption not only by peers, but every member of the ready room, so every pilot can maintain a visual reminder of their current trend and also have visibility as to where they stand stacked up against their contemporaries.

The landing grade system works to serve several ends: it helps engrain the culture of the public, analytical debrief, it helps pilots track and identify trends, both positive and negative, and it maintains an ever-present import on the gravity of a pilot’s most important task – the safe recovery of the aircraft aboard the ship.  However, the system is not just about measuring individual performance – it also uses the concept of positive peer pressure to motivate individuals to not only track and improve their own skills, but to do so while encouraging and supporting their fellow aviators, as their squadron’s landing performance as a whole is constantly compared to the others in the air wing.

Why is this system so effective? Positive peer pressure creates a sense of healthy competition, a culture where team members encourage each other not only to do their best, but to continually strive to review their actions, look for improvement, and better each other in order to contribute to the team’s success. When pilots receive a lower grade, they are innately and overtly encouraged to review their performance and work to improve for the next landing.

Corporate teams can use this same tactic to motivate each other. Just like in the Navy, individuals in a corporate setting want to feel like they are part of a team and contributing to a collective goal. By creating a system that publicly recognizes and encourages not only performance, but performance-driven camaraderie, individuals are motivated to improve their own skills and support their colleagues for the betterment of the team. This creates a positive feedback loop where everyone is working towards a common goal, and the team’s overall performance reaps significant benefits.

Attention to change management in this type of system is crucial – the concept needs to be not only implemented, but spearheaded and demonstrated from the leadership on down, and encourages team adoption so as to avoid negative consequences such as individuals feeling demotivated or overwhelmed. The goal is to create an environment where individuals are motivated to perform their best and support their colleagues, rather than one where they feel pressured or punished for underperforming.

The landing grades system is a great example of how positive peer pressure can be used to motivate individuals and create a sense of healthy competition. Corporate teams can implement similar systems, either between individuals on a team, or within teams in a division/company that utilize positive peer pressure to encourage self-reflection, critical review, and mutual motivation, to ultimately improve the team’s overall performance and creating a more positive work environment.

Motivation requires creating an environment where team members are supported, recognized, and held accountable.  By setting goals, fostering healthy competition, providing feedback, and leading by example, teams can use positive peer pressure to motivate each other to achieve their full potential.