The Debrief with Jon Becker

Improving Tactical Decision Making – Dr. Gary Klein

Nov 27, 2024

Dr. Gary Klein, a renowned author and researcher in decision-making, shares his insights gathered from decades of study across various sectors, including military and emergency response. He discusses innovative techniques like the pre-mortem method to enhance decision-making under pressure. Klein recounts fascinating lessons learned from firefighters, emphasizing intuition over analysis. He highlights the importance of communication and mentorship in refining tactical skills, and explores how embracing failure can turn setbacks into valuable learning opportunities.

01:03:54

Episode guests

Gary Klein

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Quick takeaways

Dr. Gary Klein's research highlights the importance of intuitive decision-making through the Recognition-Primed Decision model, showcasing how experienced professionals assess risks swiftly.

The podcast emphasizes the value of reflective learning and debriefing in decision-making, encouraging discussions on cognitive processes to enhance skill development and organizational learning.

Deep dives

The Origins of Decision-Making Research

Dr. Gary Klein's research into decision-making originated in the 1980s, ignited by a request from the Army to study high-stakes decision-making under time constraints. Initially, conventional laboratory approaches failed to yield useful insights, leading Klein to investigate real-world contexts, specifically focusing on firefighters' experiences. Through in-depth interviews and cognitive analysis, his team discovered that traditional models of decision-making did not accurately reflect how experienced professionals assess risks and make choices in critical situations. This research laid the foundation for his influential work, including the development of methodologies that provide a greater understanding of intuitive decision-making.

Intro

2min

The Art of Decision-Making: Lessons from Firefighters

18min

The Power of Communication and Recognition

4min

The Importance of Subtle Observations in Tactical Decision Making

6min

Embracing Failure for Growth

19min

Enhancing Tactical Decision-Making Through Mentorship

13min

Engaging the Law Enforcement Community through Practical Decision-Making Education

2min

My guest today is a true legend in the field of decision making, Dr. Gary Klein. Gary is the author of the book Sources of Power: How People Make Decisions, and five other books. His work includes groundbreaking research into the cognitive models we use for decision making including the Recognition-Primed Decision (RPD) model, the Data/Frame model of sensemaking, the Management By Discovery model of planning in complex settings, and the Triple Path Model of Insight. He has developed methods including the Pre-Mortem method of risk assessment, techniques for Cognitive Task Analysis, the ShadowBox training approach, and also helped pioneer the Naturalistic Decision-Making movement in 1989. Dr. Klein has decades of work experience in dozens of work domains, including military, healthcare, and emergency response. I am excited to have Gary on the show because his work with military and emergency response work provides a great framework for us to not only understand our decision making but also how to improve it through training and simulation.

Course Discussed on Show:

https://www.shadowboxtraining.com/courses/masterclass-in-practical-decision-making/

Gary’s Books:

Sources of Power: How People Make Decisions – ISBN13 - 978-0262112277

Seeing What Others Don't: The Remarkable Ways We Gain Insights – ISBN13 -978-1610392518

Book Recommendation:

How to Stay Smart in a Smart World: Why Human Intelligence Still Beats Algorithms by Gerd Gigerenzer – ISBN13 - 978-0262046954

Contact Info:

ShadowBox Training – Accelerate Expertise

Gary Klein - WELCOME