TASC Outdoor Leadership Level 3 flashcards

33 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Situational leadership

A model in which the leader adjusts style between directing, coaching, supporting, and delegating according to each follower's competence and commitment for the task at hand.

Tuckman group stages

Forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning describe predictable phases of group development, each requiring different leader behaviour and support.

SMART goals

Specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound criteria used to test whether a group objective is clear enough to plan and evaluate.

Risk equation

Risk equals likelihood multiplied by consequence; controls either reduce the chance of an event or limit the harm it causes.

ALARP principle

Risks should be reduced as low as reasonably practicable, balancing the effort and cost of controls against the severity of potential harm.

Activity briefing elements

A complete briefing covers purpose, plan, roles, safety parameters, communication signals, and a check-back to confirm understanding before starting.

Johari window

A model of self-awareness and team awareness built from self-disclosure and feedback, shrinking blind and hidden areas within a group.

Debrief sequence

A structured review moving through facts, feelings, findings, and future application, turning an experience into transferable learning.

Leader intervention test

Intervene when safety, inclusion, or the group goal is at risk; otherwise allow self-management so competence and ownership develop.

Consent and inclusion

Leaders seek informed agreement, adapt tasks to varied abilities, and monitor who is excluded from decisions or group activity.

Role clarity

Each member knows their task, authority, and reporting line; unclear roles are a common source of conflict and safety gaps.

Feedback quality

Effective feedback is specific, timely, behavioural, and paired with a next step, so the recipient can act on it immediately.

Contingency planning

Leaders define alternate routes, turnaround times, and retreat options before departure so decisions are made calmly rather than under pressure.

Ethical leadership duty

Leaders hold a duty of care that outranks summit or completion goals; abandoning an objective for safety is a legitimate success.

Team decision models

Options include leader decides, consultative decision, majority vote, and consensus; the choice depends on time pressure and consequence severity.

Transfer of learning

Deliberate reflection links activity experiences to future situations, so skills and judgements carry over beyond the course setting.

Hypothermia recognition

Shivering, confusion, slurred speech, and loss of fine motor control signal cooling; treat with insulation, wind shelter, and gradual rewarming, not rapid external heat.

Heat stroke

Core temperature above 40 C with altered mental status is a medical emergency requiring aggressive cooling and immediate evacuation.

Primary survey DRABC

Danger, response, airway, breathing, circulation form the first check before any secondary assessment of injuries or history.

Golden hour

Early evacuation and early medical contact after serious trauma reduce complication rates; delay increases risk of deterioration.

Navigation check interval

Confirm position with map, compass, and terrain at least every 30 minutes and at each major handrail or catching feature.

River crossing rule

Unbuckle the pack, face upstream, and use a triangle of support; avoid fast water above knee depth without a fixed belay.

Lightning 30/30 rule

Seek shelter when the flash-to-bang interval falls below 30 seconds, and wait 30 minutes after the last thunder before resuming.

Leave No Trace

Pack out all waste, camp at least 60 meters from water, and travel on durable surfaces to limit erosion and disturbance.

Distress signal pattern

Six signals per minute, repeated after a one-minute pause, is the international ground-to-air distress pattern.

Turnaround time

A pre-set time or point at which the group turns back regardless of progress, preventing summit fever from overriding safety.

Weather signs

Falling pressure, building cumulus, increasing wind, and a backing wind direction indicate deteriorating conditions requiring reassessment.

Emergency shelter priority

Protect from wind, then wet, then cold; windproofing and insulation precede food and drink in the initial response to exposure.

Anaphylaxis response

Give adrenaline auto-injector into the outer thigh, call emergency services, and lay the casualty flat with legs raised if breathing allows.

Blister prevention

Fit footwear, manage moisture with liner socks, and address hot spots early with tape before skin damage develops.

Stream flow hazard

Rising or discoloured water signals upstream rain; a crossing safe earlier in the day may be impassable on return.

Group equipment check

Before departure, verify group shelter, first aid kit, repair kit, navigation tools, and communication device are present and functional.

Incident reporting

Record time, location, conditions, actions taken, and outcome promptly and factually, supporting later review and any formal investigation.