The message here is so simple yet contradicts orthodox and contemporary safety education, training and practice: “telling is more risky than asking”, "We see ‘asking’ as a ‘weakness’ or being ‘ignorant’ so we avoid it" The Art of Humble Inquiry as a Pathway to Safety Improvement I was chatting with … [Read more...] about The Art of Humble Inquiry as a Pathway to Safety Improvement
humble enquiry
What Can Safety Learn From Playschool?
These days I watch a lot of Playschool, a children’s TV program on ABCTV (https://www.abc.net.au/abcforkids/sites/playschool/). Playschool is a pre-school education program based entirely on imagination and play. Everything about the show is basic - no fancy props, no expensive sets and adults … [Read more...] about What Can Safety Learn From Playschool?
The Dangers of Common Sense Language in Safety
The Dangers of Common Sense Language in Safety I have written previously as far back as 2015 about the dangers of common sense language: https://safetyrisk.net/non-common-sense-mythology/ https://safetyrisk.net/the-common-sense-fallacy/ … [Read more...] about The Dangers of Common Sense Language in Safety
In search of plan B in workers’ recovery
The cumbersome systems that have evolved around workers compensation cause frustration and suffering for employers and workers. Employers get saddled with volatile costs and workers get labelled as problems to be fixed. Health professionals reluctantly and cautiously engage in the same way that we … [Read more...] about In search of plan B in workers’ recovery
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?
Disrupting the Methodology in Safety?
Disrupting the Methodology in Safety? There seems a real focus at the moment on finding better and ‘different’ ways (or methods) to ‘do’ Safety; both in organisations and for those working in the field. There is a lot of good discussion happening and in particular, it is positive to note that much … [Read more...] about Disrupting the Methodology in Safety?
Imperfections and Humble Inquiry – A Great Team
Imperfections and Humble Inquiry – A Great Team Another great article by Paul Nieuwoudt, Author of: Zero Harm and a Peasant in 16th Century Europe , Another side to the story and The Illusion Of Opposites – read more great articles like this on his blog www.leadership-observer.com Forms pervade … [Read more...] about Imperfections and Humble Inquiry – A Great Team
How to communicate about safety – the art of humble enquiry
Article co-authored by Rob Sams from Dolphyn and published here by Resilium How to communicate about safety – the art of humble enquiry Improving safety can be a tough job. According to Dave Collins of Riskex, the key to driving ownership is to start conversations rather than set rules. Workplace … [Read more...] about How to communicate about safety – the art of humble enquiry
Speaking Out
I haven't published a post like this one for a while but I found Peter’s story very compelling. I had a few thoughts when reading this......... I agree that we all need to speak out but, perhaps more importantly, I think that we need to do more ASKING OUT (yes I know what you are thinking right now … [Read more...] about Speaking Out
Developing Our Inner Introversion
Developing Our Inner Introversion …..the art of questioning becomes more difficult as status increases. Our culture emphasizes that leaders must be wiser, set direction and articulate values, all of which predisposes them to tell rather than ask”. Edgar Schein in Humble Inquiry (2013, p.5) I … [Read more...] about Developing Our Inner Introversion
