Mandala as a Method for Tackling an Ethic of Risk (a Video)

I always find it entertaining being told by safety people what doesn’t work in SPoR. It is so interesting because such deep thinking comes from people who have never engaged with SPoR, never read SPoR and don’t know what SPoR does. When all you know is a hammer every solution is a nail.

When I recently wrote about visual, verbal, relational and experiential learning (https://safetyrisk.net/visual-verbal-and-relational-mapping-in-risk-assessment/) it was made clear how mandala was being used in situ in a global corporation and how it worked.

For those who want to know how SPoR works there is plenty to read and download for free (https://www.humandymensions.com/shop/). The trouble is, many in safety simply don’t want to know how SPoR works! (https://www.humandymensions.com/product/it-works-a-new-approach-to-risk-and-safety/). This case study of SPoR at work in a global forestry and paper producer documents how SPoR works.

SPoR is at work across the globe in leadership, risk and safety in many organisations and many professions, as well as the safety industry.

Recently, Dr Nippin Anand, Dr Pedro Ferreira and I discussed how SPoR uses ‘mandala knowing’ to help leaders tackle risk in a global organisation based in India. You can see our discussion in the video below.

And if you want to know how SPoR works. Is practical, positive and doable you can register for the following:

• If you are in Europe and Interested in learning SPoR you can register for the two workshops being undertaken by Dr Long in Vienna (including a semiotic walk). You can register here: https://www.humandymensions.com/vienna-workshops/
• Write to Dr Long at robertlong2@mac.com  for a discount.
• For those in Australia and SE Asia you can register for the SPoR Convention in Canberra September 2023: https://safetyrisk.net/spor-convention-canberra-18-21-september-2023/
• Write to Dr Long at robertlong2@mac.com  for a discount.

So, if you want to write and tell me how SPoR doesn’t work, can I suggest you stick to what you are doing in safety and we all know how that works.

Mandala Symbolism relevance to risk management from CLLR on Vimeo.

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Prof. Robert Long

Expert in Social Psychology, Principal & Trainer at Human Dymensions

Latest posts by Prof. Robert Long (see all)

• Embouchure, Affordance and Learning in Risk - September 8, 2026
• Following-Leading in Risk, Supplement. Free Download - September 7, 2026
• Safety Culture and the Culture of Safety - September 6, 2026
• Safety, Creating Order Out of Disorder - September 4, 2026
• The Meaning of Risk - September 4, 2026

PhD., MEd., MOH., BEd., BTh., Dip T., Dip Min., Cert IV TAA, MRMIA Rob is the founder of Human Dymensions and has extensive experience, qualifications and expertise across a range of sectors including government, education, corporate, industry and community sectors over 30 years. Rob has worked at all levels of the education and training sector including serving on various post graduate executive, post graduate supervision, post graduate course design and implementation programs.