Many so-called accidents can be prevented with a bit of forethought. In this conversation, we explore ways to avoid bad outcomes by preparing beforehand.

Show notes:

• There Are No Accidents, Only Collisions by Alan Levar
• Traction Heroes Ep. 2: Unprecedented
• The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande
• Pass Labs
• Four Types of Problems by Art Smalley
• Drift Into Failure by Sidney Dekker
• The Problem Is Not the Problem by Harry Max (video)

Determining what to track is essential for effective management. But focusing on just a few measures can lead us to miss important things.

Show notes:

• Seeing Like a State by James C. Scott
• How Buildings Learn by Stewart Brand
• Pace layers
• Strategies for Learning from Failure by Amy C. Edmondson (HBR gift link)
• What Got You Here Won't Get You There by Marshall Goldsmith and Mark Reiter

A reading from a popular job search book prompts a discussion about our inability to accurately self-diagnose — and what to do about it.

Show notes:

• Never Search Alone by Phyl Terry
• Phyl.org
• Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
• Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi and Tahl Raz
• What Color is Your Parachute? by Richard Bolles
• So Good They Can't Ignore You by Cal Newport
• Social Traps by John Cross and Melvin Guyer
• Mistakes Were Made (bot Not By Me) by Caroll Tavris and Elliot Aronson
• Confidential by John Nolan
• Johari window
• Using AI to Illuminate My Blind Spots by Jorge Arango