Comfort Scores: A risk mitigation tool for pre-trip briefings
Here’s a tool I find useful at pre-trip briefings that can help the group assess its ability to tackle some tricky objective. It’s especially good for groups with mixed skill levels where people aren’t necessarily familiar with everyone else’s skill set. I’ve used this in contexts like group kayak trips, group canyoneering trips, ambitious adventure runs, and so forth.
You do need a small baseline of trust and psychological safety with the group since it requires being a little bit vulnerable about your comfort level. So it’s probably best in situations with shared context, e.g. kayak or climbing clubs; or among groups with similar training backgrounds, e.g. a group of guides with similar certifications
It works like this: everyone individually thinks about the trip and the group’s objectives, and states their comfort with the trip as planned, giving a score of 1, 2, or 3.
3 means: “I’m super comfortable. This is well within my skill – so much so that I’lll be able to help others.”
At a “3”, you’re not just getting through the day; you’ve got spare mental and physical capacity to help out others. This might be a Class IV boater on a Class III river they’ve run a bunch of times, or an experienced backpacker out for a short overnighter in easy terrain, etc.
2 means: “I can do this, I can look out for myself. but it will require focus.”
At a “2”, you’re at your comfortable level – not above it, you’re not overreaching, but you’re doing something that’ll challenge you and require your full attention. You will not be available to help others.
1 means: “I’m uncomfortable or nervous, and I’ll need some help getting through the day.”
A “1” doesn’t mean you’re over your head, or that you shouldn’t go on the trip; it means that there’s a reason you’re doing this in a group! You’ll be stretching some, and may need a hand to have an optimal day. For example, I’m going on a canyoneering trip next week where I’m going to be a “1”: it’s a canyon I’ve done once before, and I know there’s a very tricky move on the final rappel sequence. I needed an assist there last time, and I don’t think I’ve improved enough to attempt that bit unassisted.
The group then totals up the scores. Your total score should be around double the size of your team – e.g. if you’re a team of 6, you’d like a total score of 12 or more. Anything above that mark indicates you’ve got more help available than you have need for help – a good sign!
If the total score is below that mark, it’s a sign you should stop and think carefully, and even consider cancelling the trip or changing objectives. An average below “2” indicates that you have more need for help than you have help available, and that might be dangerous. At the very least, you should carefully discuss how you can increase your safety bargain.
This exercise can also prompt discussion with the “1"s about what and where they might need a hand. Often I’ve seen “3"s and “1"s connect during/after this exercise and make some specific plans for where/when/how to work together to increase safety/comfort.
I think this is probably most useful in wilderness risk mitigation, but you can probably apply it to other disciplines. If you do, I’d love to hear about it!.