What Does Safety Achieve? Have You Heard the Latest Safety Joke? An Archetype is not the sum of individuals in a group. An Archetype is the representation of a mindset/culture that belongs to a group. In the nature of Safety this is best known through the work of associations, regulators and common … [Read more...] about What Does Safety Achieve?
In Praise of Balance in Risk and the Threat of Extremism
In Praise of Balance in Risk and the Threat of Extremism With all the focus on the terrible events in France and Sydney recently the word of the month is extremism. Following the events of the Lindt Seige and the Charlie Hedbo Masscre leaders are careful not to associate recent acts of terror with … [Read more...] about In Praise of Balance in Risk and the Threat of Extremism
You Can Fool Someone Some of the Time but, You Can Fool Safety All of the Time
One of the favourite pastimes of Safety is parading ignorance as expertise. We see this constantly with engineers writing on culture and psychosocial health. We even get Safety running programs on learning that have nothing to do with learning nor education. Ah, this is the Safety Way. I was … [Read more...] about You Can Fool Someone Some of the Time but, You Can Fool Safety All of the Time
SPoR, Metanoia and a Podcast on Change with Nippin Anand
The notion of metanoia conveys the idea of radical change, conversion, ‘leap of faith’ and new direction. The word captures the power and energy of transformative change ‘of the heart’ (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/metanoia ). Most people who take the leap of faith into a SPoR way … [Read more...] about SPoR, Metanoia and a Podcast on Change with Nippin Anand
For the Monarchists of Safety
The world just witnessed the Coronation of King Charles III. Whether you are a monarchist or not doesn’t matter for the purposes of this discussion. One thing you cannot ignore about the coronation is the importance of Semiotics, Symbols, Icons, Myths, Ritual and Gestures as the foundation and … [Read more...] about For the Monarchists of Safety
The Sully Effect
The Sully Effect I wrote recently about the Bradbury Effect that is, the delusion that there is no chance, luck, randomness and fundamental attribution error. A critical part of the Bradbury effect is the attribution of value to denial in the light of hindsight bias. It’s amazing how smart we … [Read more...] about The Sully Effect
All Things Must Pass in Risk
As we approach the end of another year we often look back and look forward, for what has past and what we might expect. We look forward using Hope and Imagination and only the delusional in safety think about the future with prediction. I am reminded of that wonderful song by George Harrison All … [Read more...] about All Things Must Pass in Risk
Scapegoating and Safety
Scapegoating and Safety The Scapegoat has always been a part of the way the Sacred deals with harm, suffering, uncertainty and guilt. All civilizations and religions have practiced various forms of scapegoating for millennia. The best way to understand the nature of scapegoating is through … [Read more...] about Scapegoating and Safety
Understanding Habit, Habituation and Change
Despite all humans know about technology, space and war we have no idea why or how people change. Whilst we know in hindsight what the tipping point is (Gladwell), we have no idea why people convert from one thing to another. I recently read Sunstein’s book ‘How Change Happens’ and apart … [Read more...] about Understanding Habit, Habituation and Change
Don’t Mention the War
One of my favourite episodes of Fawlty Towers is the episode ‘Don’t Mention the War’. This classic satire reminds me so much of Safety. I was advised recently that I speak and anchor too much to zero, particularly if I want ‘traction’. Of course, this is utter nonsense. Let’s ignore the … [Read more...] about Don’t Mention the War