How did it make sense?
How did it make sense?
Podcast Description
'How did it make sense?' explores the local rationality of those involved in doing what they did. Each podcast lasts about 45 mins and aims to follow a similar format. Initially, we will look at the 'first story' which is normally scant in details and triggers an emotional response, and then we will look at the 'second story' that looks at the goal conflicts, the ambiguities, the assumptions, the tensions, and the trade-offs that led to those involved doing what they did. This context-rich story is the one that learning opportunities come from, not focusing on the counterfactuals that often arise from 'first stories'.
The goal is to encourage you to look deeper at the socio-technical system presented by the guests and how we can make improvements by abstracting from the multiple domains discussed in the podcast to the our own domains.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast covers themes centered around organizational safety, human factors, and decision-making in high-pressure environments. Specific episodes address topics such as the complexities of workplace safety in the mining industry, the risks associated with software testing, and the psychological factors behind decision-making during crises. For example, Episode 14 investigates the implications of incomplete software testing during the CrowdStrike outage, highlighting how trade-offs between speed and safety impact outcomes.
‘How did it make sense?’ explores the local rationality of those involved in doing what they did. Each podcast lasts about 45 mins and aims to follow a similar format. Initially, we will look at the ‘first story’ which is normally scant in details and triggers an emotional response, and then we will look at the ‘second story’ that looks at the goal conflicts, the ambiguities, the assumptions, the tensions, and the trade-offs that led to those involved doing what they did. This context-rich story is the one that learning opportunities come from, not focusing on the counterfactuals that often arise from ‘first stories’.
The goal is to encourage you to look deeper at the socio-technical system presented by the guests and how we can make improvements by abstracting from the multiple domains discussed in the podcast to the our own domains.
In this powerful episode of How Did It Make Sense?, I speak with Justin Featherstone MC leadership consultant, former Army officer, and mountaineer. Justin shares an extraordinary account of survival after being trapped in a crevasse on Mont Blanc, this conversation dives deep into what happens when the unthinkable occurs and how leadership, trust, and human connection make all the difference.
Justin reflects on the life-or-death moment his climbing rope was severed, leaving him suspended upside down in the ice, and how a memory from combat (where kindness and accountability intersected) gave him the will to survive. We explore how true leadership is built not through hierarchy, but through vulnerability, courage, and compassionate decision-making. This episode is essential listening for those in the health and safety space, leadership development, and anyone curious about how people truly behave under pressure.
Books/resources
Nancy Kline – A time to think – Time to think: listening to ignite the mind. Cassell Illustrated.
Professor Michael West – The Kings Fund Leadership – The King’s Fund (2019, October 25)
Rosalinda Torres – What it takes to be a leader TED Talk
Connect with Justin on LinkedIn
linkedin.com/in/justin-featherstone-mc-frgs-frai-9b958b6
Connect with Gareth:
Transforming teams. Unlocking human potential.
Using principles from Human Factors (HF), High-Reliability Organisations (HRO), and Human and Organisational Performance (HOP), we develop and deliver highly immersive and impactful programmes using the High-Velocity Learning LAB (HVLL) concept. We give you the know-how, the tools and the support to make results stick and empower your people to achieve the extraordinary. We help you answer the question “How do we uncover those hidden stories in our organisation?”
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