Closing the Gaps: Building Competence in High Performing-Teams

About this episode

Mike and Jim discuss the development of blind spots in high-performing teams and the factors that affect performance.

Gaps in knowledge and performance happen naturally, even in high-performing teams. In this episode, Mike and Jim explore why blind spots develop despite good training, smart people, and strong intent. They walk through the realities of cognitive load—how much information a practitioner can realistically retain—and how this affects everything from tactical decision-making to compliance with policy and law. Using examples from aviation, policing, and military training, they illustrate how complexity, fatigue, and skill decay shape performance far more than most would acknowledge. The conversation also addresses how organizations should think about standards, instructor responsibilities, evaluation systems, and the realistic limits of human learning. They highlight tools leaders can use to expose and correct blind spots: independent evaluation, scenario-based application, and deliberate debriefing. Mike and Jim emphasize the importance of professional education, continual reinforcement, and maintaining a baseline that is both realistic and mission-appropriate. Take a moment and ask yourself: Are you tired of always having to work on the lowest common denominator? Do you know what…

People in this episode

Hosts: Mike, Jim

Topics covered

• competence
• high-performing teams
• cognitive load
• performance gaps
• professional education

Keywords

• knowledge gaps
• tactical decision-making
• organizational standards
• evaluation systems

Mentioned in this episode

Products: aviation training, policing training, military training

Books & works: Closing the Gaps:

More episodes of Tactical Tangents

• Who even are you? And why I don't carry as often as I once did. · April 17, 2026 · 48 min
• The best way to clear a house—CQB for Operators and Noobs · April 2, 2026 · 58 min
• The Algorithm Isn't the Boss-But It's With Us in the Briefing Room · March 15, 2026 · 55 min
• Think Like an Architect: Systems Thinking for Warfighters & Cops · March 1, 2026 · 1h 29m
• We Are Watching You - License Plate Readers and Modern Surveillance · February 15, 2026 · 58 min
• Guardians and Warriors: What type of Cop are you? · February 1, 2026 · 1h 10m