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- Apr 25, 2006
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Spot the deliberate mistake (3)
'Words of the wise ... should be heard ...' Ecclesiastes 9:17
Fear of making mistakes keep us from reaching our potential. Fear stops us from asking for help or owning up when we don't have all the answers. Fear stops us speaking out in case we get shot down. To be successful you need to be brave enough to listen. When you don't, it can be disastrous. In It's Your Ship,
Michael Abrashoff writes: 'The moment I heard about it [the tragic sinking of a Japanese fishing boat off Honolulu by the submarine USS Greenville], I was reminded that, as is often the case with accidents, someone senses possible danger but doesn't actually speak up.
As the Greenville investigation unfolded, I read in a New York Times article that the submarine's crew "respected the Commanding Officer too much to question his judgement." If that's respect, then I want none of it. You need to have people that can tap you on your shoulder and say, "Is this the best way?" or "Slow down", or "Think about this". or "Is what we are doing worth killing or injuring somebody?" 'History records countless incidents in which ship captains or organisation leaders permitted a climate of intimidation to pervade the workplace, silencing subordinates whose warnings could have prevented disaster. Even when the reluctance to speak up stems from admiration for the Commanding Officer's skill and experience, a climate to question decisions must be created in order to foster double-checking.'
written by Bob Gass
'Words of the wise ... should be heard ...' Ecclesiastes 9:17
Fear of making mistakes keep us from reaching our potential. Fear stops us from asking for help or owning up when we don't have all the answers. Fear stops us speaking out in case we get shot down. To be successful you need to be brave enough to listen. When you don't, it can be disastrous. In It's Your Ship,
Michael Abrashoff writes: 'The moment I heard about it [the tragic sinking of a Japanese fishing boat off Honolulu by the submarine USS Greenville], I was reminded that, as is often the case with accidents, someone senses possible danger but doesn't actually speak up.
As the Greenville investigation unfolded, I read in a New York Times article that the submarine's crew "respected the Commanding Officer too much to question his judgement." If that's respect, then I want none of it. You need to have people that can tap you on your shoulder and say, "Is this the best way?" or "Slow down", or "Think about this". or "Is what we are doing worth killing or injuring somebody?" 'History records countless incidents in which ship captains or organisation leaders permitted a climate of intimidation to pervade the workplace, silencing subordinates whose warnings could have prevented disaster. Even when the reluctance to speak up stems from admiration for the Commanding Officer's skill and experience, a climate to question decisions must be created in order to foster double-checking.'
written by Bob Gass
