Our comfort zone is the area in which we operate and feel comfortable. Sometimes we are pushed or push ourselves past our comfort zone and this can feel uneasy. When this happens, putting events into perspective can de-escalate the situation and even broaden your comfort zone.
This starts with being less hard on ourselves and becoming more aware of how our inner dialogue can misinterpret situations which influences our views and our mood. Inner dialogue can be related to childhood cartoons, where a devil would appeared on one shoulder of the character and an angel on the other, both trying to influence thoughts and/or action of the particular character.
We so often “jump to conclusions” based on selected or interpreted reality, assumptions and beliefs as illustrated by the “Ladder of Inference” within the module guides. We can interrupt this way of thinking by slowing down and asking yourself a few challenging questions to “Put things into Perspective” and de-escalate the situation and make better decisions and find better solutions to issues we are faced with.
EXAMPLE OF “KEEPING THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE”
A tankerman begins discharging to a receiving terminal. He is having trouble maintaining pressure and the pump is not putting out as normal. On the previous discharge, the tankerman had mechanical issues with the same pump that were addressed with repairs made after that discharge. He immediately gets frustrated, assuming the mechanical issues have not been resolved. He reports the issue to the captain, lacking detail and saying, “I tried everything” out of frustration and assuming that the previous issues were unresolved. The dock man starts getting frustrated as the boat awaits a call from Cenac Maintenance.
Cenac Maintenance begins asking questions to which they initially get the response from the tankerman, “I tried all of that.” Before sending out a mechanic and shutting down the operation, Cenac Maintenance asks the Captain to go out on the barge, look at the pump and pump engine and perform a hands-on, step-by-step trouble shooting process. The problem was resolved when the Captain was asked to check the fuel shut-off switch to make sure it was set properly and it was not. The pump engine wasn’t getting enough fuel. the switch was half-cocked and did not reset properly after testing the emergency shut-down as part of the pre-arrival checklist.
The tankerman felt embarrassed and much time was wasted on the issue. If the tankerman would have slowed down his internal dialogue keeping things in perspective, searched for alternative explanations for the issue and looked for evidence instead of throwing his hands up and assuming the previous issues were not resolved, he likely would have found the fuel switch issue and avoided the delay and frustrations all around.
FACILITATORS:
- Print out the RESILIENCE Feedback Form by Clicking the following link. At the end of the discussions, write the name of the attendees on the form, note any feedback provided by the group on the form and send the form into the office. RESILIENCE SIGN-IN AND FEEDBACK FORM
- Use the Facilitator Guide as a template for conducting a meeting with your crew basis Module 3 – “Keep Things In Perspective” Click the following Link to view and print the Facilitator Guide. RESILIENCE MODULE 3 – FACILITATOR GUIDE
- Click the following link to view and print the Participant Guide for Module 3 – “Keep Things In Perspective” Print one guide per participant for them to use during the discussion and keep for later reference. RESILIENCE MODULE 3 – PARTICIPANT GUIDE
- DON’T FORGET TO TURN THE RESILIENCE FEEDBACK FORM TO THE OFFICE.
Thank you for your participation!