The Ad Astra Human Factors Competencies Assessment measures your current development in the nine Human Factors competencies that overcome our native human fallibilities.

The questionnaire consists of 50 questions with 5 answer choices - choose the statement that best matches your answers.

With this assessment you should think carefully and answer honestly - this is simply a snapshot, not a test of what you think you should say.

It is free and for your own private use - the results are not visible to anyone but you. If you want to know more about your results and our courses you are welcome to contact us - +44 (0)20 7088 8164 or info@adastra-hp.com

Here’s a brief primer on each of the nine competencies—why they matter, and practical steps to build your capability:

Communication
Why it’s important
Clear, concise communication ensures ideas, instructions and feedback are understood, reducing errors and misunderstandings. It builds trust, aligns teams around common goals, and fosters a culture of openness.

How to improve
• Active listening: Practice summarising what you’ve heard before responding.
• Tailor your message: Adapt tone and detail to your audience (e.g. technical vs non‑technical).
• Ask for feedback: Invite colleagues to confirm their understanding.
• Practice concise writing: Draft emails/docs, then edit ruthlessly for clarity.

Leadership
Why it’s important
Strong leadership sets direction, motivates people through challenges and creates a psychologically safe environment where everyone can thrive.

How to improve
• Set clear expectations: Define roles, goals and deadlines up front.
• Delegate properly: Match tasks to individual strengths and provide support.
• Lead by example: Model the behaviours you expect—punctuality, accountability, respect.
• Solicit input: Involve team members in decision‑making to build ownership.

Teamwork
Why it’s important
Collaborative teams combine diverse skills and perspectives, innovate more effectively, and share load during high‑pressure periods.

How to improve
• Build rapport: Take time for informal check‑ins and celebrate small wins together.
• Clarify roles: Ensure everyone knows who’s responsible for what.
• Encourage diverse views: Invite quieter members to speak up; rotate meeting facilitators.
• Resolve conflicts early: Address misunderstandings directly and constructively.

Situational Awareness
Why it’s important
Being attuned to what’s happening around you—risks, changing priorities, emerging opportunities—lets you anticipate problems and adapt swiftly.

How to improve
• Regular check‑ins: Schedule brief “status” huddles to share updates.
• Use visual aids: Dashboards, Kanban boards or white‑boards to track key indicators.
• Pause and scan: Build “look-up” moments into your day to reassess your environment.
• Debrief after events: Analyse what changed and why, to sharpen future anticipation.

Workload Management
Why it’s important
Properly balancing tasks prevents burnout, ensures deadlines are met, and keeps quality high even under pressure.

How to improve
• Prioritise ruthlessly: Use the Eisenhower matrix (urgent vs important).
• Block your calendar: Reserve focus time and buffer for unexpected tasks.
• Delegate or defer: If a task isn’t critical to your unique skill set, pass it along.
• Review daily: Spend five minutes each morning adjusting priorities.

Problem Solving & Decision Making
Why it’s important
Identifying root causes, weighing alternatives and making timely decisions drives continuous improvement and prevents small issues from escalating.

How to improve
• Root‑cause analysis: Ask “why” five times to peel back symptoms.
• Brainstorm wide: Generate at least three options before choosing one.
• Risk–benefit evaluation: List pros/cons for each solution.
• Post‑implementation review: Reflect on outcomes and capture lessons learned.

Stress, Fatigue & Wellbeing
Why it’s important
Chronic stress and fatigue impair judgment, slow reaction times, and increase error rates—affecting both safety and performance.

How to improve
• Schedule breaks: Use the Pomodoro technique (25 min work, 5 min rest).
• Monitor workload: Look out for colleagues showing signs of overwhelm.
• Promote healthy habits: Encourage walking meetings, standing desks, sleep hygiene.
• Provide support: Offer peer check‑ins or access to counselling resources.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI)
Why it’s important
Inclusive teams harness a wider range of experiences and ideas, foster a sense of belonging, and outperform homogeneous groups.

How to improve
• Encourage the quiet voices: They may have the information that saves the day, or even your life.
• Seek diverse input: Intentionally invite underrepresented and opposing voices in meetings.
• Speak up with courage: Do not self-silence in front of your bosses - they pay you for your judgment.
• Review processes: Have you listened to the entire team? Has everyone spoken? Have you spoken? Never give up your right to be stupid.

Professional Standards
Why it’s important
Adherence to ethical codes, policies and best practices maintains public trust, protects confidentiality and ensures consistency across the organisation.

How to improve
• Know the rules: Regularly review your organisation’s manuals and code of conduct.
• Hold yourself accountable: Report errors promptly and document lessons.
• Commit to development: Pursue relevant certifications, workshops or conferences.
• Model behaviour: Mentor juniors by demonstrating integrity and respect.


Next Steps
1. Pick one skill area where your self‑assessment was weakest.
2. Identify a small, concrete action you can take this week (e.g. schedule a 20 min “priority review” or sign up for a communication workshop).
3. Track your progress over the next month and revisit your assessment to measure improvement.