How did it make sense?

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: Human in the System  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?" Contact us here

What happens when someone tests your emergency plan—and no one’s ready? In this episode of How Did It Make Sense?, I speak with Marcus Dimbleby, ex-RAF Wing Commander and now partner at Effective Direction, about the moment he walked into an ops room and triggered the crash alarm on purpose. We unpack how critical thinking, red teaming, and stress testing systems reveal the hidden flaws in safety procedures, leadership cultures, and team behaviours. It’s a story that moves from chaos to commendation, with lessons every business leader and risk manager should hear. Connect with Marcus: Marcus Dimbleby on LinkedIn effectivedirection.com Resources Recommended: Big Things Fast by Jose Corella and Marcus Dimbleby Gary Klein – recognition-primed decision making and naturalistic decision making.  Daniel Kahneman – Thinking, Fast and Slow Connect with Gareth: Human in the System  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?" Contact us here

In this episode of How Did It Make Sense? I sit down with Chris Davies, co-founder of Volaria Performance, to dig deeper into the idea of blaming up versus blaming down. Chris shares a story from his military aviation days – a high-pressure scenario involving rapid descents, rotor overspeeds, and a well-intended but misguided fine imposed by leadership. It’s a classic example of where human error meets systemic misunderstanding. We unpack the layers of this case: What happens when leaders focus on punishment instead of understanding? Why do we so often recognise the frontline worker’s rationality but fail to apply the same empathy upwards? And what are the risks when oversights at the top are dismissed as incompetence rather than pressure-driven decision-making? We also explore how this kind of thinking shows up across industries – from healthcare to aviation, defence to energy. It’s not just about individuals; it’s about the systems they operate in, and the stories those systems tell. This episode is a call to move beyond blame – in any direction – and towards curiosity, context, and connection. It’s for leaders, operators, and anyone trying to make sense of complexity in real-world systems. Connect with Chris; LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-davies-7633b62a/ Website - https://www.volaria-performance.com/ Resources Recommended: When the Dust Settles by Lucy Easthope  Alchemy by Rory Sutherland  Connect with Gareth Here: Human in the System  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?" Contact us here

In this episode of How Did It Make Sense?, I speak with Aaron Potash about a tragic diving incident in Monterey. A struggling student, a distressed instructor, and a beach full of bystanders—why did no one step in? This story raises important questions about how we recognise and respond to distress in high-risk environments. We explore the bystander effect, training gaps, and Immersion Pulmonary Edema (IPE), a little-known but potentially fatal condition that may have played a role. Despite its increasing recognition in the diving and medical communities, awareness and early detection remain limited. Aaron shares how this experience reshaped his approach to diver readiness and risk management, emphasizing the need for better training, clearer distress signals, and stronger safety cultures. Connect with Aaron: www.originaloaktowndivers.com  @originaloaktowndivers  Resources Recommended: Jessie Singers – There are no accidents You can also listen to Jessie's episode on How Did It Make Sense here  Connect with Gareth Here: Human in the System  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?" Contact us here

In today’s episode of How Did It Make Sense? I sit down with two fellow Lund University graduates, Liam Duggan and Natia Ellis, to dig into the realities of police use of force and the critical role of second-story analysis. We start by dissecting a high-stakes policing scenario—a mental health crisis escalating to a fatal police shooting. The media-driven first story often simplifies these events, focusing on blame and hindsight bias. But what happens when we step back and consider the second story? Liam and Natia take us through their research, exploring the hidden systemic pressures shaping officer decisions—from policy constraints and training gaps to budget cuts and crisis response limitations. Connect with Natia and Liam: Natia Ellis | LinkedIn Liam D. | LinkedIn Resources Recommended Friendly Fire by Scott Snook Normal Accidents by Charles Perrow Thinking in Bets by Annie Duke Legacy by James Kerr Connect with Gareth Here: Human in the System  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?" Contact us here

A planned electrical job. A misidentified live cable. A workplace accident that could have been fatal. What really happened, and what can we learn from it? In this episode of How Did It Make Sense?, I am joined by Ken Mudd, a seasoned health and safety expert with over 25 years of experience across multiple industries. Together, they unravel the complex reality behind what seemed like a simple workplace accident—a contractor cutting into a live 415-volt cable, suffering burns in the process. But as we dig deeper, we uncover a story that started months before the actual event. From conflicting business goals, delayed shutdowns, and assumptions about safety protocols, to communication breakdowns and systemic weaknesses in contractor management, this case is a classic example of how “accidents” don’t happen in isolation. What lessons can we take from this incident to prevent similar mistakes? How do risk, business decisions, and safety intersect? And most importantly—what critical controls should have been in place? If you’re in health and safety, leadership, or operations, this conversation will challenge the way you think about risk and responsibility in your workplace. Connect with Ken Mudd: Website: YorSafety.com LinkedIn: Ken Mudd Resources Recommended by Ken Mudd: Beyond Blame: Learning from Failure and Success – David Zwieback Safety Differently – Sidney Dekker Challenging the Safety Quo – Craig Marriott Ken’s MSc Thesis on Human Error & One-to-One Safety Feedback Connect with Gareth Here: Human in the System  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?" Contact us here

Kristian Gould, a human factors expert in the energy and maritime sectors, dives into the shocking 2018 collision involving the Norwegian frigate Helge Ingstad and an oil tanker. He discusses how human error is often oversimplified, revealing deeper systemic issues like communication failures and crew experience that led to the disaster. Kristian emphasizes the importance of situational awareness and how political influences can drive safety improvements. He also critiques how accountability is often mismanaged in organizations, especially under pressure.

Jessie Singer, an investigative journalist and author, shares her insights on the complexities of accidents and safety. Inspired by the tragic loss of her best friend, she challenges common narratives that blame individuals for accidents instead of addressing systemic issues. Jessie discusses the interplay between personal stories and societal structures, examining how pedestrian safety has been overlooked in favor of vehicle rights. With a focus on accountability, she argues for a shift in perspective to prioritize safety and prevent future tragedies.

When your airway kit gets vomited on mid-procedure, things get a whole lot harder—especially in a high-stakes, high-pressure medical emergency. In today’s episode on How Did It Make Sense, I’m joined by Eoin Walker from the World Extreme Medicine Forum, and we’re diving into one of the toughest cases of his career—a failed airway intervention that turned into an emergency tracheotomy. The patient was critically burned, time was running out, and just as they were about to secure the airway, the kit got covered in vomit. In the moment, everything was chaotic—30 people watching, critical decisions being made in seconds, and an overwhelming pressure to perform. This is the kind of case that looks straightforward in hindsight, but in reality, was anything but. But here’s where the real learning happens. We unpack the cognitive overload of working in a VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex, ambiguous) world, the hidden pressures behind decision-making, and why getting comfortable with failure is crucial in high-stakes environments. We also explore how paramedics and HEMS teams build mental models from rare, high-risk cases, and how interdisciplinary learning makes us all better under pressure. Whether you’re in healthcare, aviation, emergency response—or just fascinated by the human side of high-performance decision-making—this one’s for you.   Resources Recommended: The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman The Practice by Seth Godin Make Brilliant Work by Rod Judkins Connect with Eoin via LinkedIn or listen to one of his podcasts here Human in the System  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?" Contact us here

When a big organisation acquires a small, thriving SME, it should be a perfect match—right? Not always. In this week's episode of How Did it Make Sense, I sit down with Ann Stow, Chartered Psychologist and founder of Humanise Work, to unpack the real story behind a merger that went wrong. Within months, key leaders had resigned, culture had collapsed, and trust was shattered. But what really drove those decisions? Ann breaks down the hidden pressures, communication failures, and cultural clashes that often go unnoticed but make or break business transformations. We explore why two-thirds of mergers fail, the cost of rushed decisions, and the lessons leaders need to learn before it’s too late. From understanding local rationality to the power of clear communication, this conversation is packed with insights for anyone navigating organisational change. If you want to keep good people, build trust, and avoid repeating the same mistakes, this one’s for you. Tune in and let’s get into the second story.   Resources and books recommended: Psychology: The Science of Mental Life by Georgie A Miller  Freedom To Be Happy: The Business Case for Happiness https://annstow.medium.com/how-planting-an-artichoke-in-a-mixed-border-made-me-reflect-on-equity-2633120bfae8 https://annstow.medium.com/get-the-roots-of-your-business-right-200b581ffe6f https://annstow.medium.com/   Connect with Ann here: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annstow/ Website: https://www.humanisework.com/ Email: annstow@outlook.com    Human in the System  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?" Contact us here