Safety Talks powered by JMJ Associates

In our latest podcast, JMJ's Alan Palmer is joined by Mike Porter, Intel Project Director, and Jim Hayde, Operations Director at Jacobs Engineering, to reflect on the safety achievements of Intel's "Fab 14" major capital project which took place in Ireland 25 years ago. During the discussion, Mike and Jim share many stories and anecdotes that highlight how they created an aligned, collaborative safety culture resulting in an amazing five million worker-hours without a fatality. The project was completed with a cost saving of 7%.

Earlier this year, JMJ and The Bennett Institute for Public Policy at the University of Cambridge released a study titled, Sustainability: Corporate culture and leadership perspectives. The research asked global business leaders across a range of sectors to share attitudes, barriers, and enablers of successful corporate sustainability strategies from a leadership and culture standpoint.In the latest edition of JMJ's Culture Transformation Consulting podcast, Jeff Williams, CEO of JMJ and the Bennett Institute's Prof. Diane Coyle discuss the study's purpose, methodology and key findings including:How organizations define corporate sustainability and ESGThe internal and external pressures that make corporate sustainability a business imperativeChallenges to successful implementationHow people at different levels of organizations perceive the role of leadership and culture in driving sustainability transformationAdvice for leaders setting out on a sustainability transformation journeyThis is the first in a series of podcasts looking at the different aspects of sustainability. Be sure to tune in for future broadcasts when Jeff will focus on the findings from the perspectives of: Culture; stakeholders and drivers; leadership and people.

In conversation with Jay Greenspan, Craig Martin talks about the construction company's safety journey and shares some of the inspirational stories that have shaped his lifelong commitment to an Incident and Injury-Free™ workplace. 

In this episode, Gill Kernick and Matthew Price look at our obsession with blame and blame-avoidance and how that cements our inability to learn. They speak to the former government advisor Salma Shah and Times Radio correspondent Charlotte Ivers about the relationship between politicians and the media and how blame plays a central role.  They also speak to Christopher Hood  Emeritus Professor of Government at All Souls Oxford and author of The Blame Game - Spin, Bureaucracy, and Self Preservation in Government. He describes how finger-pointing and mutual buck passing is a familiar feature of politics and that blame avoidance pervades government and public organisations at every level.   They explore the likelihood of this blame obsession changing and look at the role of consequences in enabling change and learning.

TRIGGER WARNING: THERE IS A SHORT CLIP OF HANAN WAHABI GIVING EVIDENCE AT THE GRENFELL INQUIRY AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS PODCAST.In this episode, Gill Kernick and Matthew Price go back to the start,  to the Grenfell Tower fire to look for where hope for change might emerge.  Joined by Hanan Wahabi, a former resident and survivor of the fire, they explore grief and where hope can be found in the aftermath of disasters. Hanan's brother Abdul Aziz and his family died on the 21st floor at Grenfell.   They also speak to Julian McCrae from Engage Britain - a new charity which hopes to drive change through bringing different and diverse people together to influence policy and change. If we listen to, and engage with diversity of thought, might our collective wisdom be the way to prevent catastrophes? Might compassion and humanity be as important as regulations?

In this episode, Gill Kernick and Matthew Price look at why we weren't more prepared for the pandemic...  We knew it was coming. The World Health Organisation published its first pandemic plan in 1999. The UK had also planned for it. What on earth happened?  And what does that story tell us more broadly about why we fail to prevent catastrophe?  Gill and Matthew speak to two front-line workers, Chidera Ota and Louise Curtis to find out how they adapted to a fast-moving emergency situation.  They also speak to David Alexander who is a professor of risk reduction at UCL, and Jill Rutter a senior research fellow at UK in a Changing Europe about the underlying systemic problems that meant the UK was never equipped to deal with a pandemic. And they explore something new. What is the role of empathy in preventing catastrophe?

In this episode, Gill Kernick and Matthew Price look at the Costa Concordia disaster - the ship that hit rocks and capsized off the coast of Italy.  Despite being so close to land, 33 people lost their lives. A subsequent investigation focused on the shortcomings in the procedures followed by the Costa Concordia's crew and the actions of her captain Francesco Schettino.  He was later jailed for 16 years.  But while the fingers were pointed at a rogue captain in order to explain this disaster, Gill and Matthew explore what this accident tells us about leadership, and about how companies must create a culture in which safety is paramount. They are joined by Rose Mecalf, a dancer who was on board the Costa Concordia as it was sinking - who has a deep understanding of what actually went wrong. They also speak to Andy Brown, CEO of the Portuguese Energy Company Galp about what makes a good leader, and how a good leader creates safety.

TRIGGER WARNING: THERE IS A VERY SHORT CLIP OF THE FIRST EMERGENCY CALL AND SOUNDS OF THE NIGHT NEAR THE BEGINNING OF THIS PODCASTIn this first episode, Gill Kernick and Matthew Price go back to June 2017 when Gill witnessed the terrible fire at Grenfell that killed 72 people.  As she watched the fire rip through the building she felt helpless. She knew, as a consultant advising high hazard industries on how to prevent disasters, that this should never have happened.  With the help of Guillermo Rein, who is a professor of Fire Science at Imperial College London and Diane Coyle who is an economist and co-director of the Bennett Institute for Public Policy at Cambridge University, Gill and Matthew examine the complexities of building safety and look at the myth that regulations keep us safe.

In this episode, Gill Kernick and Matthew Price examine what went wrong with the Boeing 737 Max aircraft.  Why did 346 people lose their lives?  With the help of the consulting editor at Flight Global, David Learmount,  Gill and Matthew look at the culture of Boeing at the time of the accident, and find out why not even the pilots of the new plane knew about MCAS  - a  new technology that led to the disasters.  They speak to retired  NASA Astronaut Jim Wetherbee and domestic airline pilot Laura Einsetler about the importance of listening to the front line and how if bad news is well received we stand a better chance of avoiding catastrophe.

JMJ Associates Jeff Williams, CEO and Master Consultant, Gill Kernick discuss how Gill’s experience writing her Book Catastrophe and Systemic Change: Learning from the Grenfell Tower Fire and Other Disasters has impacted her professionally as she works with clients in high-risk industries and what her hope for the future is. About the podcast:The fire colored the night sky a brutal orange. Thick black smoke rose from the building. From her living room in a neighboring tower block, Gill Kernick watched in horror as the Grenfell tower burned. 72 people lost their lives. Gill had lived on Grenfell’s 21st floor for three years. She loved the place, the people and the views of London. Now it was gone. As a master consultant advising high-hazard industries on how to prevent disaster, Gill felt helpless. This should never have happened. And yet, she thought, we always say that after a disaster. And still they do happen. Why? This podcast and the book it accompanies is the result of a vow Gill made after the fire to do something to honor the lives of those lost. In this series, Catastrophe, Gill Kernick and journalist Matthew Price, who she met while he was covering the Grenfell tower fire, examine how we create disasters. How our established ways of thinking and working contribute to catastrophe. They examine previous catastrophes and explore how and why we rarely learn. And they discover that if we are to stop the next catastrophe we need to tear up the established ways of doing things and start along a new road.Catastrophe the podcast is sponsored by JMJ consultants and is a Mother Come Quickly Production.  It runs alongside the book by Gill Kernick - Catastrophe and Systemic Change

Join JMJ Senior Consultant, Kelli Bettenhausen, and Tom Peterson, Construction Senior Leader, in a conversation about 'holistic safety', the theme for this year's Construction Safety Week.  For more episodes and insights head to JMJ.com

Join Mark Britton, JMJ partner, and Kelli Bettenhausen, JMJ Senior Consultant, discuss the topic of psychological safety. Mark shares why he became interested in this subject, and what he has learnt from his research. He goes on to explain how his findings led him to identify 10 leadership capabilities and best practices leaders need to develop and display to make people feel safe and able to take interpersonal risk.  For more episodes and insights head to JMJ.com

Join JMJ Managing Consultant, Greg Savage, and Rebecca Severson, Corporate Director of Safety at Gilbane Building Company, talk about the evolution of Construction Safety Week. They discuss the importance of this year’s theme, ‘holistic safety’, and explain why placing physical and mental health at the forefront is critical to keeping construction workers safe.  For more episodes and insights head to JMJ.com

Kelli and Kathryn, along with special guest Ryan Lovchik, look back at Season 1 and discuss the good, the great, and the next season of the podcast series.For more episodes and insights head to JMJ.com

In this episode of "What Does Poetry Have To Do With Leadership?", JMJ consultants Kathryn Schindler and Kelli Bettenhausen explore 'For A Leader', by John O'Donohue.Kelli and Kathryn, along with special guests Mark Guest and Rick Bair, discuss leadership as a developmental journey without an endpoint.The poem ‘For A Leader’ is from the book 'To Bless the Space Between Us: A Book of Blessings', published by Doubleday; First Edition (March 4, 2008). Available for purchase on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0385522274?tag=joodo-20For more episodes and insights head to JMJ.com

In this episode of "What Does Poetry Have To Do With Leadership?", JMJ consultants Kathryn Schindler and Kelli Bettenhausen explore "Equality and Justice" by Arya N.Kelli and Kathryn, along with special guests Arya N. and Amy Hanf, discuss the leadership distinction of committing to the achievement of equality and justice for all. Arya shares examples of intentional development for young leaders who make it a pledge - and really, really mean it.For more episodes and insights head to JMJ.com

In this episode of "What Does Poetry Have To Do With Leadership?", JMJ consultants Kathryn Schindler and Kelli Bettenhausen explore "Walking Meditation" by Thich Naht Hanh, a Vietnamese Zen Buddhist monk, peace activist, and poet Kathryn and Kelli explore what happens when management stops talking and starts listening. It means reversing the flow of communication. Doing a listening tour as a specific act of leadership builds connectenedness with people on the front lines. The poem ‘Walking Meditation’ is from the book 'Call Me By My True Names: The Collected Poems of Thich Nhat Hanh', published by Parallax Press; New Edition (August 9, 2001). If you enjoyed the poem, and wish to purchase the book, ask for a copy wherever fine books are sold.For more episodes and insights head to JMJ.com

In this episode of "What Does Poetry Have To Do With Leadership?", JMJ consultants Kathyrn Schindler and Kelli Bettenhausen explore "The Guest House" by the 13th Century Sufi mystic poet Rumi. This poem explores the question of who a leader needs to be with regard to interacting with all those around her and how expressing appreciation is essential to accomplishing the unpredictable future that the individual leader has taken a stand for.For more episodes and insights head to JMJ.com

In this episode, JMJ consultants Kelli Bettenhausen, Michael Huvane, and Camille Ford share a conversation about the leadership quality of empathy. For more episodes and insights head to JMJ.com.

In this episode of "What Does Poetry Have To Do With Leadership?", JMJ consultants Kathyrn Schindler and Kelli Bettenhausen explore "Cutting Loose" by poet William Stafford.Kelli and Kathryn discuss the leadership quality of empathy and what it means to remain in touch with shared sorrow while bringing people from there they are. When a breakdown occurs, what can be done differently to achieve breakthough?"Cutting Loose" by William Stafford, Copyright 1982. Permission granted by Kim Stafford. The poem is available in a collection titled "Dancing with Joy: 99 Poems" by Roger Housden, published by Harmony; First Edition (March 13, 2007).For more episodes and insights head to JMJ.com

In this episode of "What Does Poetry Have To Do With Leadership?", JMJ consultants Kathyrn Schindler and Kelli Bettenhausen explore "What Haunts Him" from the book "Voices" by Lucille Clifton (BOA Editions, Ltd., 2008).Kelli and Kathryn, along with special guests Brian Martin and Regina Williams, discuss the leadership distinctions that leadership can come from anyplace and anyone, regardless of their authority levelFor more episodes and insights head to JMJ.com

In this episode of "What Does Poetry Have To Do With Leadership?", JMJ consultants Kathryn Schindler and Kelli Bettenhausen explore "Come" by Australian poet Andrew Colliver. Available in a collection of poems and stories titled 'This Dance of Bliss: Ecstatic Poetry from Around the World (Poetry Chaikhana Anthology Book 2)' by Ivan Granger, published by Poetry Chaikhana 2018.Kelli and Kathryn discuss the leadership distinctions of 'Getting on the balcony' and 'Not knowing' what’s on the other side. For more episodes and insights head to JMJ.com

In the first episode of "What Does Poetry Have To Do With Leadership?", JMJ consultants Kathryn Schindler and Kelli Bettenhausen explore the poem "The Leader".This short poem by English poet Roger McGough asks the big question: What distinguishes leadership? “The Leader” by Roger McGough from Sky in the Pie (© Roger McGough 1983) is used by permission of United Agents (www.unitedagents.co.uk) on behalf of Roger McGough.For more episodes and insights head to JMJ.com.

Welcome to "What Does Poetry Have To Do With Leadership?"Listen to JMJ consultants Kelli Bettenhausen and Kathryn Schindler, introduce the podcast series while they explain and demonstrate “What Does Poetry Have to do With Leadership?” Why it is a novel tool for leaders, particularly in these times, and how poetry is becoming a business practice within today’s organizations. For more episodes and insights head to JMJ.com

Join JMJ Co-founder Mike Goddu in a conversation on how we emerge as leaders in a Post Covid-19 crisis world. From the standpoint of organizational excellence, human performance, organizational development, there is no better time to learn and improve. There is no better time to engage your supervisors in your technicians. There is no better time, and people have figured out how they know which button to hit. To get the cross-functional people together to make the improvements they always wish they had time to, and it could be supply chain.

Join JMJ Master Consultant Gill Kernick and Tamsin Lishman, Asset Director, Northumbrian Water discuss the challenges of working during these disruptive times. Listen to how they are adapting, learning, innovating, and collaborating to deliver water safely.

In our conversations, we talk a lot about communication style differences and how this either promotes or inhibits inclusiveness. We also get into leadership and their role in first understanding and then promoting inclusive behavior. We discuss how psychological safety is an absolute imperative and foundational in promoting inclusion and diversity and how all of this is quite hard and even more difficult when people are not face-to-face.

In celebration of International Women’s Day, Global Subject Matter Expert in High-Performance Coaching Helen Atkinson and JMJ Senior Consultant Gill Kernick discuss working and consulting in traditionally male-dominated high hazard industries and environments. In fact, there are fewer women in oil and gas than almost any major industry. Gender diversity decreases with seniority with only 1% of women holding the position of CEO.What are the challenges facing women in safety leadership how can perceived obstacles can be turned into assets?Gill and Helen explain how women create a transformational relationship and a thriving culture. What is the part we can all play to further gender equality in business performance?

Quality much like safety and productivity are critical aspects of a high-performance culture. Today we have Flo Mostaccero, a partner at JMJ, interviewing Mike Harrington, an experienced expert in quality and delivering highly successful projects, programs, and portfolios by focusing on a high-performance team culture.

Looking for help with your Turnaround? You’ll love this episode of JMJ’s Safety Talks. Frank Engli is a mechanical engineer by training with over 37 years of experience operating shutdowns, turnarounds, and outages. He is currently the Projects, Maintenance and Turnaround Manager at Shell Canada's Sarnia Manufacturing Center.In this engaging conversation with JMJ safety consultant Vikki Sanders, Frank discusses what he learned about safety leadership and the one piece of advice he would give someone who is managing a turnaround for the first time?Frank recalls successfully teaming up with JMJ to create a safety culture based on “crafting a caring and collaborative approach at the construction site."

One thing that we can’t change is the past. Perhaps this is why we look expectantly toward the start of the bright new year. It’s the opportunity to begin anew, to right our wrongs, to follow the practices we know are needed to put us on the right track.In this episode, JMJ Chief Sales and Marketing Officer Laurie Brunner offers a 5-step framework for beginning a brilliant new year by completing the last.

Flo Mostaccero, JMJ Partner for Major Capital Projects, and Dave Wilson, Liquefaction Operations Supervisor for Freeport LNG, discuss the importance of focusing on a safe and productive culture and how this impacts worker’s morale and mental health. Other topics discussed include organizational leadership, values, and structure and how they impact culture, either positively or negatively. Dave shares in his opinion, what actions a company could take to promote a safer and more productive environment.

How does leadership behavior impact organizational safety and well-being? What you know might be different from what you should do as a safety leader. Safety leadership is not about signs and regulation to hold workers accountable; it is about creating a work environment that is built on respect, care, and interaction. Listen to the story of how and why you should develop and lead a respectful workplaceDo we command attention by giving orders and speaking in a loud voice? That may be the standard approach but we emphasize the opposite approach. Introduce yourself, be vulnerable, and take a few minutes to build a relationship first. Let people warm up to you as a leader. Instead of barking orders, ask for input first. These methods will yield dividends of safety breakthroughs and active engagement of your workers.Guest host is JMJ Co-Founder Mike Goddu.

This episode provides you with an understanding of the factors that shape the way organizations operate and succeed. It is said, “culture eats strategy for breakfast”. Find out more about the model which tags 6 cultural mechanisms to drive an organization. How do we shape the organizational culture within a business context? Culture tells people how to succeed. To change a culture, it’s important to first understand what makes the current culture successful before it can be modified.The 6 culture embedding mechanisms are windows to look through and see what is driving the culture. The 6 mechanisms are: what senior managers control on a regular basis; the perceived criteria by which leaders get promoted or fired; the kind of role modeling senior management do; how the organization allocates resources; reward and status within an organization; and how senior management pay attention to bad news. These six windows give an insight into the company culture. Guest host: JMJ Consultant, Michael Huvane.

What’s the difference between safety compliance and safety engagement? Can we have more in our workplace? What makes safety a way of life? While all operating sites are interested in both safety compliance and engagement. More managers realize engagement is the key to exceptional operations and safety, even more than compliance. What do you notice walking around a construction site in Singapore? Red taped, safety signs are abundant. They drive compliance but do not encourage engagement. Some companies take the opposite view and actively encourage workers to understand the hazards but engage in more work-competent behavior. It’s time to use methods like simulations to go beyond standard safety compliance.Guest Host: JMJ Co-founder Mike Goddu