Swarm teams are temporary, self-organizing groups that form in moments of crisis—like a code blue—to solve a single urgent problem. Unlike intact teams, they have no shared history, culture, or established hierarchy. This post explores what makes swarm teams unique in medicine and why understanding them is key to improving performance under pressure.

Not every team gets to wait for instructions. In high-stakes moments, teams must act without direct leadership. This post explores how to build teams capable of leaderless action—through mission clarity, training under pressure, and rewarding initiative when it counts most.

The July transition places significant strain on a complex, adaptive system. While new interns draw most of the attention, quieter role changes across the team often introduce hidden friction. Spotting and supporting these shifts is critical to system resilience.