Speak UP – Save Lives
Don’t be afraid to speak up when you see something wrong.
After the Canary Islands crash that killed 583 people, NASA convened a panel to change communication and leadership practices in airplane cockpits. These crashes were precipitated by preventable errors but no one spoke up about them as they were happening. Why did they not speak up? We can argue that they didn’t feel confident enough to go up against the pilot authority figure. NASA and the aviation industry knew things had to change.
Hospitals have begun to do similar training in operating rooms. In fact, they often hire pilots to come and train their staff.
They train staff on communication processes and leadership practices that encourage everyone to be part of the team and to speak up when they believe they must.
The days of one person leading the ship are over. To do it best, it takes an interactive community.