Trauma teams work best when everyone knows what needs to happen next, and when it needs to happen by.
As TTL, you are responsible for managing both the patient’s journey and the team’s progress through that journey. You may have a clear plan in your own mind, but unless you communicate it clearly, your team won’t share that vision. One of the simplest ways to improve team performance is to put a specific time target on important milestones.
Instead of saying:
“Let’s get to CT soon.”
Try:
“I want us moving to CT in 10 minutes. That’s 07:45 on the clock above me. Before we move we need to complete three things…”
Then allocate those tasks to specific individuals.
This does three things:
- Creates a shared mental model
- Gives the team a clear priority
- Allows everyone to monitor progress
Be Ambitious, Not Unrealistic
Time goals should motivate the team, not overwhelm them. Artificially short deadlines create stress, encourage shortcuts, and can damage performance. So there is a balance to apply some time pressure to the team so they can realistically succeed, but not to force them to take shortcuts or rush. The aim is to help them succeed.
The TTL Role
This is another example of Level 3 Situational Awareness. You are not just observing what is happening now. You are projecting what needs to happen next and ensuring the team gets there on time. The best TTLs and the trauma teams always seem to be ready for the next step. That’s usually because the TTL helped them understand what that step was several minutes ago.
Further Reading
- St Emlyn’s: The Zero Point Survey
https://www.stemlynsblog.org/the-zero-point-survey/ - Simon Carley, “TTL tips 12: Thinking ahead,” in St.Emlyn’s, May 29, 2026, https://www.stemlynsblog.org/ttl-tips-12-thinking-ahead/.
