Feeling pretty chuffed that Rob Sams asked me to share this: First published here: http://dolphyn.com.au/the-paradox-of-helping/ The Paradox of Helping I had the privilege of attending the Lifeline Brass Blokes Awards in my hometown of Newcastle last night. The Awards recognise the spirit of … [Read more...] about The Paradox of Helping
Search Results for: paradox
Sexy Curves and the Paradox of Risk
Sexy Curves and the Paradox of Risk Rob’s new Book: “Following-Leading in Risk” is a MUST READ if you think you already know about Leadership. CHECK IT OUT One of the modern myths of mechanistic safety is that injury rates have been coming down for the last 100 years. Presenters love to parade the … [Read more...] about Sexy Curves and the Paradox of Risk
Culture as a Wicked Problem, for Safety
The issue of culture is a ‘wicked problem’ for Safety (https://safetyrisk.net/risk-and-safety-as-a-wicked-problem/ ), that makes it a wicked wicked problem. Understanding both safety and culture as wicked problems is critical for ‘tackling’ risk. I use the word tackling because there is no sense in … [Read more...] about Culture as a Wicked Problem, for Safety
Cultural Orientation in Risk
One of the challenges for the safety industry is the myth of objectivity and the seduction of order and control. When one holds a thirst for power (through engineering and behaviourism) the last thing one wants to be told is that some things are ‘wicked’ … [Read more...] about Cultural Orientation in Risk
The Loathing of Limits
The Loathing of Limits I was listening to an ABC podcast called Minefield last week about ‘Needs of the Soul, Hardship’ and heard one of the presenters Scott Stephens say that humans have always had a sense of ‘loathing limits’. Scott Stephens is the Online Editor of Religion and Ethics for the ABC … [Read more...] about The Loathing of Limits
Courting Infallibility in Safety
Courting Infallibility in Safety One of the best questions one can ask of anyone spruiking zero is: please tell me what will happen tomorrow? Or perhaps next week? Of course they can’t, no one can. Such is the beauty of fallibility Just imagine how dreadful life would be if we had insight … [Read more...] about Courting Infallibility in Safety
The Safety Spoilsport
The Safety Spoilsport One of the things we hated as kids was the ‘spoilsport’, the one who wouldn’t ‘play’ in the spirit of the game. Indeed, spoilsports were the ones who hated play full stop. Play is an essential part of learning. Play recognises the uncertain in learning and doesn’t stress … [Read more...] about The Safety Spoilsport
Culture is Cloudy in Safety, and That’s a Good Thing
I read with amusement the book Safety Cultures, Safety Models with so much assertion, assumption, projection, intra-safety confirmation bias and emotive language with little evidence. One of the favourite metaphors in the book is the use of the language of ‘cloud’. Apparently, confusion is … [Read more...] about Culture is Cloudy in Safety, and That’s a Good Thing
Incrementalism, Catastrophism and All That’s In-between
Dr Rob Long has posted many articles on the dangers of zero harm here. This is perhaps the heaviest argument he has ever written against zero – WARNING: Some traditional safety people may be offended or find themselves performing some complex mental gymnastics! Incrementalism, Catastrophism and … [Read more...] about Incrementalism, Catastrophism and All That’s In-between
Do we Need a Different Way of Being in Safety?
Do we Need a Different Way of Being in Safety? There are many people working in Safety who seek a ‘different’ way of engaging with others, and rightly so. The current policing and patrolling approaches adopted by many, seem to be doing little to support people in how they tackle the challenges of … [Read more...] about Do we Need a Different Way of Being in Safety?
