So often the language and Discourse of risk and safety give away its ideological view hidden in marketing and spin. The best way to understand ideology is through Critical Discourse Analysis. Just dig a bit deeper than a headline and ask just a few critical questions. Just when you thought … [Read more...] about Presilience – There is no Going ‘Beyond’ Resilience
Resilience
Deficit-Surfeit Thinking in Safety
There is no such thing as objectivity in safety. We all come from a worldview and bias that is especially evident in the language and semiotics we use. For example, the language of ‘performance’ is the language of measurement outcomes. An interest in how people ‘perform’ in tackling risk is of no … [Read more...] about Deficit-Surfeit Thinking in Safety
Questioning for Resilience
When one frames the safety world through the delusions of zero ideology (see Zero, The Great Safety Delusion) the last word one hears is ‘resilience’. Zero is the denial of resilience. Why does one need resilience unless one admits that the world is not perfect, humans are fallible, systems are … [Read more...] about Questioning for Resilience
Fragility, Resilience and AntiFragility in Risk
One of the realities of risk and fallibility is understanding that the less exposure to risk, the less one learns, the less one experiences and the more fragile one becomes. Indeed, excessive fear of risk leads to even greater fragility, till eventually the outcome becomes much more dangerous … [Read more...] about Fragility, Resilience and AntiFragility in Risk
FEAR AND CONTROL – Dialogue in a technological society
I have a teenage son who is showing signs of a typical teenage boy of grunts and ‘dunno’ replies to everything. It’s challenging as a parent and even more so for someone who tackles the art of listening and conversation in training almost everyday! I sit down and despair just as other parents do … [Read more...] about FEAR AND CONTROL – Dialogue in a technological society
STOP ‘BREAKING’ PEOPLE! The notion of Psychological Safety
Last year I was supporting David at work. He came to me and asked to have a confidential conversation. It was any ordinary day but for David it was a day that his world imploded. He sat with me sobbing in despair and feeling hopeless and ‘broken’. David was not new to the realm of mental health. … [Read more...] about STOP ‘BREAKING’ PEOPLE! The notion of Psychological Safety
Learning to Learn Socially
“LEADERSHIP is TIME and a simple CUP OF COFFEE” Brian Darlington, Mondi I took a leap of faith 3 years ago and stepped away from my consulting business to immerse myself into being an employee. I wanted to be part of the machinations, to connect, to engage and grow with the people all working … [Read more...] about Learning to Learn Socially
Resilience and Safety
Resilience and Safety The ability to adapt, ‘bounce back’, learn, cope and manage adversity is an essential attribute when we consider the nature of work and safety. We live in a world where things sometimes go wrong (for a host of reasons). Life is uncertain (risk) and the world is governed by … [Read more...] about Resilience and Safety
Building resilience trumps the prevention of harm
Building resilience trumps the prevention of harm. Download a copy of the paper (includes the Bibliography for the references): Building resilience trumps the prevention of harm The prevention of harm is about trying to see, predict and control all things that may deliver an undesired outcome. … [Read more...] about Building resilience trumps the prevention of harm
Y is Being and Doing
Y is Being and Doing Parents of young children know about the ‘why cycle’. Kids around about 3 or 4 years of age learn the loop of why. Young kids discover that asking ‘Yes, but why?’ can go on forever. Yet, at the heart of this discovery is the passion for discovery itself. They really do want to … [Read more...] about Y is Being and Doing