BC&A reports that the “Top Ten Threats Cited in EMS ASRA [NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System] Reports: Mission Preparation/Operational Pressure                    93% Excessive Workload                                                      84% Communication Difficulties                                            75% . . . Distractions                                                                  28% Pilot                                                                              17% (more…)

I saw this on the TNT television series “Raising the Bar” — it’s an interesting statement:

When a witness tells the jury that he’s absolutely sure, then the jurors often conclude that he’s absolutely right.  Certainty only proves certainty, not accuracy.

Their certainty only proves they are sure of what they remember, not necessarily what accurately happened. Do you blindly accept someone’s certainty to the accuracy of the situation? Do you think through their logic?  Do you rephrase (more…)

Mutual bad behaviors .. what else? I was watching a recent episode of “Raising the Bar” .. this one was called “O! Say Can You Pee” about the behavior US Code states that one should stand with the hand over their heart when the US National Anthem (more…)

Communication is difficult enough without having to think through and explain absolutely everything we say.  In certain professions, however, vague communications can be disastrous or even deadly.  The solutions to many of our mistakes, or our friction, is quite simple — if you are unsure, ask questions and verify your (more…)

I had ‘frozen shoulder’ and am reminded of it when I travel.   I won’t check my suitcases, and can usually put it in the overhead bin by myself.  There are times, however, that I cannot raise my arm and have the strength to push it into the bin.    Frozen shoulder is (more…)

NASA Ames Research Center reported that 70% of all ASRS reports were because of communication errors, and expectation error was the highest single cause.  Expectation error ranks amont the top human factor errors. When squelching or another communication breakup occurs, the pilot completes the command with what (more…)

So here we are, about six weeks short of 2010. How have you done with your 2009 Resolutions, or the goals you have set for yourself this year? Or do you not set them because you lose interest in them? What happened to that excitement about making (more…)

I found another article that states workers admit to 47% of the time spent on-line at work has nothing at all to do with their work tasks. 47%!! That’s amazing! The article goes on to state that 60% of people surveyed “they experience mild to moderate procrastination (more…)

There are many things that can cause someone’s defenses to skyrocket. Your emotional brain, specifically your amygdala, plays a huge role in how you remember your past.  We know the more emotional you felt an event, the more likely you are to relive it with that same level of emotion. (more…)

….and touch your elbow.

Come on, let’s see you do that. I’ll wait while you try. La-la-la-la. Tra-la-la-la. Fa-la-la-la.

How’d you do? Were you successful?

No? Hmm … let’s take this in two steps:

1. Stick your tongue out.  I think we all know how to do this.  Then the misunderstanding or the challenge seems to be with the next step.

2. Touch your left elbow.  How would you touch your elbow if you did not first stick out your tongue?  Why would sticking out your tongue make a difference in how you touched your elbow?

Did you make the assumption that I was challenging you to touch your elbow with your stuck-out tongue?

It isn’t what I said, it’s what you think you heard!