Time teaches us a lot – I vividly recall my first ever coaching session during which I picked up my megaphone to say something. And then thought better of it, put down the megaphone. And again….
With time, we get skilled at pattern recognition – coaches recognise situations and know what we did before. This makes it easier to coach because we know what the “fix” is.
Knowing what to do in many different situations is what underpins a lot of our coaching practice. Likewise, spotting the moment when something dangerous or potentially dangerous is developing is also something we coaches learn over time.
After any safety incident we have to submit a report and the committee reviews it with a view to revising or improving our safety practices. What trade-offs are inherent in your safety choices?
Coach : Safety : Policy
Thomas Sowell (a professor of Economics) is famous for saying
“There are no solutions only trade-offs”
I love this quote because he concisely frames the challenges we face.
This illustrates that layered decision-making is key to getting effective outcomes. When you’re round the table with colleagues or your Board, try to see what the trade-offs are inherent in the proposal which is being considered.
Stress-testing a solution can be part of these trade-offs. Fly a kite / set up a straw man and see what reaction you get – when howls of derision follow, you know what a vocal part of your audience think – and if you get stony silence, again you know. What’s key is that if people disagree with you, remember that the “other side” is likely not coming from a place of malice, and remember there is no “perfect policy”.
I am told that the old Air Traffic Control Handbook used to include this message on the opening page.
Nothing in this book is meant to over-rule your common sense. If it doesn’t look safe, don’t do it.
Now go and review your own coaching pattern recognition – what can you build on and where could improvements come from?
