Triggers Part 2 - Why Do People Proceed in the Face of Uncertainty?

This HOPE Helpful Hint for High Reliability Operations is part 2 of, “Why Do People Proceed in the Face of Uncertainty?”

We previously spoke of one category of reasons why, “Why Do People Proceed in the Face of Uncertainty?” as Pressure Points. Now, let’s look at a second category, Human Nature Conflicts and here there are three:

1. Stopping work goes against basic human nature, we come to work wanting to do a good job and we don’t want to look incompetent.

2. We humans are creatures of habit and tend to get used to our subtle but ever-changing surroundings even when they become wrong or risky.

3. We humans tend to rationalize our way into proceeding. This can cause our ability to see the risk, to be very poor. 

Close the Gap: This HOPE Helpful Hint is to acknowledge and recognize these Human Nature conflicts and consider the following:

1. We need to release our egos and not push to completion at the risk of quality and safety.

2. We need to hone our situational and hazard awareness and approach our work with a sense of uneasiness.

3. We need to recognize when we begin to rationalize. It happens with our questioning attitude begins to fire off questions in our minds that causes us to pause or hesitate. This indicates you are now “Standing in the Space of Uncertainty” and it’s time to STOP.

Remember, settling for a “buddy-check” may not be enough based on the risk. It’s always best to check in with your Supervisor before proceeding.