Stay ConnectedHuman factors is a critical topic within the world of SCUBA diving, scientific diving, military diving, and commercial diving. This podcast is a mixture of interviews and ‘shorts’ which are audio versions of the weekly blog from The Human Diver.
Each month we will look to have at least one interview and one case study discussion where we look at an event in detail and how human factors and non-technical skills contributed (or prevented) it from happening in the manner it did.
Copyright: © 2023 (c) The Human Diver 2023
You might think that students have little to contribute when they are part of a team. However, if you think back to the inclusion safety and the need for a shared purpose of mutual learning, your students can help you improve as an individual and as a team. Look for opportunities whereby they contribute. In the context of fun diving, by allowing team members to contribute, then you can increase the chance of having more fun and using the cognitive diversity in your team to solve problems you face, this includes in an incident or adverse event. Don’t dismiss others, they might have an answer you haven’t thought about.
Original blog:
https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-3
Links:
Why is it so hard to create a team quickly in diving, especially in classes?:
Part One: Inclusion Safety
https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-1
Part Two: Learner Safety
https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-2
Part Four: Challenger Safety
https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-4
Tags:
- English Gareth Lock Leadership Psychological Safety Teamwork
Building on the foundation of inclusion safety, the second part of this podcast series explores "learner safety" in instructional diving settings. Learner safety involves creating an environment where students and team members feel safe to make mistakes as they learn new skills and knowledge. To foster learner safety, adopting a "student mindset" is crucial, emphasizing that learning is a lifelong journey and no one reaches permanent competency. Sharing what you are learning with enthusiasm and optimism can inspire others to do the same, while sharing past mistakes and the lessons learned from them encourages a culture of vulnerability and growth. Celebrating failures within defined limits is vital, recognizing that they are opportunities for learning and improvement. Additionally, asking for feedback at the moment of need and encouraging collaborative problem-solving contribute to learner safety, creating thinking divers who continually improve and push their boundaries in the world of diving.
Original blog:
https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-2
Links:
DEBrIEF template: https://www.thehumandiver.com/debrief
Why is it so hard to create a team quickly in diving, especially in classes?:
Part One: Inclusion Safety
https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-1
Part Three: Contributor Safety
https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-3
Part Four: Challenger Safety
https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-4
Tags:
- English Gareth Lock Leadership Psychological Safety Teamwork
Creating a team quickly in diving can be challenging due to the litigious nature of the sport, especially in the US, where instructors fear legal repercussions for acknowledging mistakes or deviations from standards. This fear hinders the development of psychological safety within a team. Psychological safety, defined as the shared belief within a team that it's acceptable to take interpersonal risks, plays a crucial role in diving, as every instructional dive is a team effort. To build psychological safety, it's essential to foster trust, humility, and good communication. Psychological safety consists of four stages: inclusion safety, learning safety, contributor safety, and challenger safety. This podcast series explores each stage in detail, beginning with inclusion safety, which involves making everyone feel included, moving to mutual discovery, defining and communicating the team's purpose and values, active listening, following through on commitments, and forbidding personal attacks. These practices promote inclusion and ultimately enhance team cohesion and safety in diving.
Original blog:
https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-1
Links:
Amy Edmonson’s book
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fearless-Organization-Psychological-Workplace-Innovation/dp/1119477247/
About Prospect Theory
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prospect_theory
Timothy Clark’s book
https://www.amazon.co.uk/4-Stages-Psychological-Safety/dp/1523087684/
Why is it so hard to create a team quickly in diving, especially in classes?
Part Two: Learner Safety
https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-2
Part Three: Contributor Safety
https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-3
Part Four: Challenger Safety
https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-4
Tags:
- English Gareth Lock Leadership Psychological Safety Teamwork
Psychological safety is the foundation of high-performing teams, allowing members to speak up about problems without fear of backlash or dismissal. It hinges on trust, humility, and effective communication. Trust involves believing in your team's integrity, benevolence, and ability. Humility means acknowledging that no one knows everything and being open to listening. Good communication requires understanding and avoiding assumptions in conversations. Psychological safety goes both ways, from leaders to followers and among peers. Leaders set the tone by admitting their mistakes, fostering a culture where everyone can learn from errors. Building psychological safety takes practice, but its benefits are invaluable for strong, high-performing teams.
Original blog:
https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/HFforD-part-10-psychological-safety
Links:
Communication for Dummies:
https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/HFiD-for-dummies-comms
Tags:
- English Dummies Jenny Lord Leadership Psychological Safety Teamwork
In this episode, we explore the impact of tiredness, fatigue, and stress on diving performance and safety. We discuss how these factors can lead to errors and potentially dangerous situations underwater. Fatigue, whether short-term or long-term, affects cognitive functions like problem-solving, memory, and alertness, making it essential for divers to prioritize rest. Stress, which can be either distress (negative) or eustress (positive), also plays a significant role in diving performance. We introduce the "three lemons" concept, where any stressor, or "lemon," that arises before or during a dive should be considered carefully. We emphasize the importance of recognizing signs of stress in ourselves and our dive buddies, and we discuss the challenge of calling off a dive due to small issues, known as the "sunk cost fallacy." Ultimately, we highlight the critical role of being well-rested and managing stress in ensuring safe and enjoyable dives.
Original blog:
https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/hf-for-dummies-part-9-error-producing-conditions
Tags:
- English Dummies Fatigue Jenny Lord Performance shaping factors Stress
In this podcast episode, we dive into the concept of leadership in the context of diving, emphasizing that leadership applies to everyone in various capacities. A leader is someone who understands the common goal, communicates it clearly, and fosters collaboration among team members to achieve it, even if they don't possess all the required skills themselves. We discuss leadership roles in diving, including dive guides, instructors, and even buddy pairs, stressing the importance of goal clarity, role awareness, and effective communication. We share a real-life example of an instructor who demonstrates strong leadership by addressing equipment safety concerns and creating a culture of psychological safety within the dive center.
We also explore the negative aspects of leadership, such as destructive goal pursuit, where leaders become overly focused on tasks and neglect their team's well-being and learning. Good leadership behaviors are highlighted, including maintaining awareness of the team's purpose, active listening, and fostering psychological safety for open communication. Leadership is portrayed as a dynamic and situational skill that requires conscious practice and a clear understanding of the team's goals. In conclusion, whether you find yourself in a formal leadership role or not, effective leadership in diving involves understanding the why, what, and how of your team's mission and promoting continuous improvement among all team members.
Original blog:
https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/HFiD-for-dummies-leadership
Tags:
- English Dummies Jenny Lord Leadership Teamwork
In this podcast episode, we explore the concept of teamwork in diving, shedding light on its importance and practical application. While team sports like football, rugby, and hockey inherently rely on teamwork, diving often overlooks the team dynamic. We discuss the key elements of effective teamwork, including role clarity, where everyone understands their role and the goals of the dive, and clear communication, which involves using consistent signals and fostering an environment where questions and concerns are welcomed. The briefing and debriefing process is highlighted as a crucial tool for aligning the team's mental model and learning from each other's experiences. Trust, the cornerstone of teamwork, is explored, emphasizing its development over time and its profound impact on team dynamics. Real-life examples, including challenges faced by a married couple in a diving course, illustrate the significance of trust and the possibility of splitting up a team when necessary.
Original Blog:
https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/HFiD-for-dummies-teamwork
Links:
Communication for Dummies blog
https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/HFiD-for-dummies-comms
All the Dummies blogs
https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog?tag=dummies
How to create a team, 4 part series
https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-1
https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-2
https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-3
https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/team-building-psych-safety-4
Tags: - English Dummies Jenny Lord Teamwork
In this podcast episode, we explore the critical issue of communication and why it can be so challenging, even in life-or-death situations. We start with a famous radio conversation between a US naval ship and Canadian authorities, highlighting the importance of clear communication. We then delve into the various barriers to effective communication, including language differences, distractions, culture, and the fear of looking foolish or facing punishment. We discuss the challenges of hierarchical structures that hinder open dialogue and emphasize the need for instructors to create a safe environment for questions. Additionally, we examine the problem of missing context and how it can lead to misunderstandings, especially in complex situations. We stress that clear communication is the responsibility of the message sender and recommend using open questions to ensure comprehension. Finally, we highlight the significance of not just what we say but how we say it, with examples illustrating the importance of context and patience in ensuring effective communication. Tune in for valuable insights into improving communication, and remember that clear communication can be a lifesaver, especially in high-stakes environments like underwater activities.
Original blog:
https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/HFiD-for-dummies-comms
Links
Fact checking the Lighthouse story!
https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/the-obstinate-lighthouse
Tags: - English Communication Communications Dummies Jenny Lord
In today's podcast episode, we delve into the fascinating world of decision-making, something we engage in constantly, whether it's choosing between a big life-changing move or simply opting for a cup of tea. We make thousands of decisions daily, many of which happen unconsciously. However, when it comes to underwater scenarios, the decisions we make can be a matter of life or death. So, how do we ensure we make the right choices in those critical moments? We explore various models of decision-making, such as System 1 (the fast, automatic mode we use in familiar situations) and System 2 (the slower, more deliberate mode used in new or complex situations). We also discuss the difference between expert decision-makers who rely on mental models and beginners who may struggle to interpret the same cues. An insightful real-life diving experience highlights the importance of experience and debriefs in decision-making. Finally, we offer practical advice on improving decision-making skills through practice and the power of debriefing to share mental models. Tune in for more on this crucial topic, and if you want to explore it further, check out the linked blogs for additional insights. Stay tuned for our next episode on communication and the challenges it poses, especially in underwater environments.
Links
Situation Awareness for Dummies blog https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/hf-in-diving-for-dummies-part-4-SA
The Human Diver DEBrIEF model https://www.thehumandiver.com/debrief
More blogs about decision making https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog?tag=decision-making
Tags
- English Decision-Making Dummies Jenny Lord
Part 2 of the Dummies series, all about Human Error, the slips, lapses, mistakes and violations that are made.
In this episode, we tackle the issue of labeling mishaps as 'human error' and why this term often falls short in helping us prevent future mistakes. Instead of simply attributing accidents to human error, we delve into Professor James Reason's groundbreaking work on error types.
Reason's categories include unintended actions, like slips (resulting from distractions) and lapses (memory failures), which can be reduced through environment adjustments and effective checklists. On the other hand, intended actions are divided into rule-based mistakes (applying incorrect rules) and knowledge-based mistakes (thinking you're doing the right thing, but it's wrong). These errors can be mitigated through thorough dive planning, briefings, and debriefings.
Lastly, we explore violations, where rules are seemingly broken on purpose, often revealing deeper organizational issues. Join us as we dissect the complexities of human error and how understanding its nuances can lead to safer practices in high-risk industries like diving.
Original blog URL: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/hf-in-diving-for-dummies-part-2-human-error
Links:
My biggest mistake blog: https://www.thehumandiver.com/blog/my-biggest-mistake
Description of types of errors and further reading: https://skybrary.aero/articles/human-error-types
Tags: - English Dummies Gareth Lock Human Error
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