The Human Risk Podcast
People are often described as the largest asset in most organisations. They are also the biggest single cause of risk. This podcast explores the topic of 'human risk', or "the risk of people doing things they shouldn't or not doing things they should", and examines how behavioural science can help us mitigate it. It also looks at 'human reward', or "how to get the most out of people". When we manage human risk, we often stifle human reward. Equally, when we unleash human reward, we often inadvertently increase human risk.
Episodes
April 18, 2024 • 62 mins
What is it that makes a job enjoyable and fulfilling? While you’re likely to have your own very individual answers to that question, chances are it’ll be to do with what you’re required to do, how much freedom you have, whether you think it’s worthwhile and how well it plays to your skillsets and interests.
Yet, all too often, companies focus more on profit and less on creating environments that truly allow people to flourish. My ...
Yet, all too often, companies focus more on profit and less on creating environments that truly allow people to flourish. My ...
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April 13, 2024 • 59 mins
Why do we lie and cheat and why might it not always be a bad thing?
On this episode, I’m speaking to a research professor who has studied lying and cheating in the natural world and what we can learn about it in the human world.
My guest, Dr Lixing Sun is a Research Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Central Washington University. While his research focuses on biology, his interests are in connecting behaviour,...
On this episode, I’m speaking to a research professor who has studied lying and cheating in the natural world and what we can learn about it in the human world.
My guest, Dr Lixing Sun is a Research Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Central Washington University. While his research focuses on biology, his interests are in connecting behaviour,...
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April 6, 2024 • 72 mins
What prompted a courageous former employee of Harvey Weinstein to break her Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA)?
On this episode I'm speaking to a campaigner who came to prominence as the individual who broke the silence surrounding the misconduct of Harvey Weinstein. Formerly an assistant to Weinstein, Zelda Perkins made headlines when she came forward with allegations of sexual harassment against him.
In the late 1990s, she signed an ...
On this episode I'm speaking to a campaigner who came to prominence as the individual who broke the silence surrounding the misconduct of Harvey Weinstein. Formerly an assistant to Weinstein, Zelda Perkins made headlines when she came forward with allegations of sexual harassment against him.
In the late 1990s, she signed an ...
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March 30, 2024 • 66 mins
How, in a world of limited resources, can we prioritise risk? Which ones should we focus on more than others?
This isn't just something we need to think about in a work context. It also applies to our personal lives; where should we spend our money, time and headspace?
My guest is a friend of the show who has appeared four times before (links below).
Professor Magda Osman is a Professor of Basic & Applied Decision-Making at Leeds...
This isn't just something we need to think about in a work context. It also applies to our personal lives; where should we spend our money, time and headspace?
My guest is a friend of the show who has appeared four times before (links below).
Professor Magda Osman is a Professor of Basic & Applied Decision-Making at Leeds...
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March 24, 2024 • 61 mins
How can we make better decisions? By paying attention to good advice or information and ignoring the opposite. In a world where we're overloaded with data and opinions, it can be hard to determine what is good and what is bad advice.
My guest Nuala Walsh, is the author of a new book called 'Tune In! How to make smarter decisions in a noisy world'. In it, she highlights how we make decisions and the risks of using the wrong inform...
My guest Nuala Walsh, is the author of a new book called 'Tune In! How to make smarter decisions in a noisy world'. In it, she highlights how we make decisions and the risks of using the wrong inform...
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March 17, 2024 • 62 mins
What does storytelling have to do with managing risk? On this episode, I’m speaking to novelist, playwright, and screenwriter Preethi Nair. She also helps people who want to tell their stories to identify the one that will resonate and tell them in the best possible way.
We all know the power of storytelling. It’s how we learn as kids and how we share information as adults. The risk angle here is that if we want people to do the ...
We all know the power of storytelling. It’s how we learn as kids and how we share information as adults. The risk angle here is that if we want people to do the ...
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March 10, 2024 • 45 mins
What can business learn from improvisation? If you listened to the previous episode of the shwo, you'll know the answer. If you haven't yet done so, then I recommend dojgn that before listening to this. Because this is Part Two of my discussion with Heather Urquhart and it lfows naturally on from Part One.
Meet Heather Urqhuhart
My guest Heather Urquhart is a professional improviser who not only performs improv but also works to help...
Meet Heather Urqhuhart
My guest Heather Urquhart is a professional improviser who not only performs improv but also works to help...
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March 3, 2024 • 48 mins
What can business learn from improvisation? On the face of it, a form of entertainment that involves making things up as you go along, seems to be filled with human risk and not at all helpful in the business world.
But actually, the skills that improvisers use to entertain us, are incredibky useful in businesses to drive better decision-making, The techniques that allow them to respond to unexpecte situations or come up with creati...
But actually, the skills that improvisers use to entertain us, are incredibky useful in businesses to drive better decision-making, The techniques that allow them to respond to unexpecte situations or come up with creati...
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February 26, 2024 • 61 mins
What is burnout, and how can we prevent it?
We're increasingly hearing about the idea of 'burnout', which the World Health Organisation has defined as a condition "resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed". Recent high profile resignations, including Jacinda Ardern the former PM of New Zealand and Jürgen Klopp, the Manager of Liverpool Football Club — both citing not having enough energy to cont...
We're increasingly hearing about the idea of 'burnout', which the World Health Organisation has defined as a condition "resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed". Recent high profile resignations, including Jacinda Ardern the former PM of New Zealand and Jürgen Klopp, the Manager of Liverpool Football Club — both citing not having enough energy to cont...
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February 18, 2024 • 59 mins
What is Healthcare Coaching?
If I say the word ‘doctor’ to you — in a medical, not academic, sense— you’ll probably think of someone in a white coat with a stethoscope who makes medical assessments and prescribes treatments and drugs to patients. Which, of course, is what they do do
But a word that probably wouldn’t come to mind when you think of doctors is ‘coach’. Yet, that’s the role that my guest on this episode, Dr Ollie Hart, ...
If I say the word ‘doctor’ to you — in a medical, not academic, sense— you’ll probably think of someone in a white coat with a stethoscope who makes medical assessments and prescribes treatments and drugs to patients. Which, of course, is what they do do
But a word that probably wouldn’t come to mind when you think of doctors is ‘coach’. Yet, that’s the role that my guest on this episode, Dr Ollie Hart, ...
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February 12, 2024 • 59 mins
How can businesses do the right thing? What does that even mean and why does or should it matter?
What is Business Ethics?
Business ethics used to be a case of dealing with things like bribery and fraud, which companies tried to — and often did — manage with rules and processes. But nowadays, in a world where every employee and consumer has the ability to go viral on social media, it’s a much harder dynamic to manage.
Businesses are ...
What is Business Ethics?
Business ethics used to be a case of dealing with things like bribery and fraud, which companies tried to — and often did — manage with rules and processes. But nowadays, in a world where every employee and consumer has the ability to go viral on social media, it’s a much harder dynamic to manage.
Businesses are ...
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February 3, 2024 • 70 mins
What happens when a surgeon decides to become an airline pilot? You get some amazing insights into mistakes, how they happen and what we can do to mitigate them.
That surgeon and now pilot is my guest Niall Downey. He’s also the author of a book called ‘Oops! Why Things Go Wrong’: Understanding and Controlling Error’
He began his career as a doctor, where he becaeme a cardiothoracic surgeon. After twelve years of medical trainin...
That surgeon and now pilot is my guest Niall Downey. He’s also the author of a book called ‘Oops! Why Things Go Wrong’: Understanding and Controlling Error’
He began his career as a doctor, where he becaeme a cardiothoracic surgeon. After twelve years of medical trainin...
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January 28, 2024 • 54 mins
What happens when companies outside financial services are required to comply with regulations such as AML (Anti-Money Laundering)? As we all know from our personal experiences of banks that want to verify who we are and where money is coming from or going to, the rules are complex. That’s challenging enough if you’re a bank. But if you’re an art dealer, a real estate agent or someone else working in the field of high-value goods, ...
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January 21, 2024 • 64 mins
Authenticity is often praised, and inauthenticity is criticised. We want people to be themselves. But what happens if the society we’re in isn’t supportive or even hostile toward who we really are? Or we don’t yet know. That’s the challenge facing many LGBTQ+ people in relation to coming out.
It’s the subject of a brand new book called ‘Countless Sleepless Nights’ which tells the real-life stories of people who, because of their sex...
It’s the subject of a brand new book called ‘Countless Sleepless Nights’ which tells the real-life stories of people who, because of their sex...
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January 15, 2024 • 61 mins
What’s the most effective way to manage cyber risk? The obvious answer is to have more sophisticated security systems. My guest on this episode thinks the answer is humans.
That’s because behind every cyber attack, there is a human, and the biggest point of vulnerability within an organisation is its humans. If we can better understand humans and how they behave, we can be more effective at managing cyber risk.
That’s the view of my ...
That’s because behind every cyber attack, there is a human, and the biggest point of vulnerability within an organisation is its humans. If we can better understand humans and how they behave, we can be more effective at managing cyber risk.
That’s the view of my ...
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January 8, 2024 • 59 mins
What determines the price of an item or service? How can we price things so that people want to buy them but also so that we feel it’s fair? Whether (like me) you’re in business and have to sell, or you’re negotiating a salary or looking to buy or sell a house or a car, pricing matters.
My guest on this episode, Melina Palmer, is the author of a new book, The Truth About Pricing: How to Apply Behavioral Economics So Customers Buy (V...
My guest on this episode, Melina Palmer, is the author of a new book, The Truth About Pricing: How to Apply Behavioral Economics So Customers Buy (V...
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December 31, 2023 • 60 mins
What drives the choices we make, and how can we influence the choices that others make?
On this episode, I’m speaking to an expert in human decision-making. Richard Shotton is a behavioural science practitioner who has written two best-selling books, ‘ The Choice Factory’ and ‘The Illusion of Choice’.
Having begun his career in marketing, Richard now helps companies apply behavioural science to solve problems, particularly, as the t...
On this episode, I’m speaking to an expert in human decision-making. Richard Shotton is a behavioural science practitioner who has written two best-selling books, ‘ The Choice Factory’ and ‘The Illusion of Choice’.
Having begun his career in marketing, Richard now helps companies apply behavioural science to solve problems, particularly, as the t...
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December 16, 2023 • 66 mins
How can we manage people who are doing creative work? On the one hand, letting someone do what they want feels incredibly risky. On the other hand, creativity requires a degree of freedom, experimentation and agency.
That’s a particular problem in the creative fields, but it’s also a broader challenge. In the 21st century, the jobs people are doing are increasingly ones that require some element of creativity.
Creativity is that i...
That’s a particular problem in the creative fields, but it’s also a broader challenge. In the 21st century, the jobs people are doing are increasingly ones that require some element of creativity.
Creativity is that i...
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December 4, 2023 • 64 mins
Why do we sometimes make bad decisions in relation to money and what can we do about it?
My guest, Vishal George, is a Behavioural Scientist who has recently published a book called ‘Money Mindsets: Science-Based Stories to Rewire your Money Beliefs, Goals, & Habits’.
In it, he explores that he way we behave when it comes to money, comes from beliefs about it, that we’ve adopted from our families, socio-cultural environment, an...
My guest, Vishal George, is a Behavioural Scientist who has recently published a book called ‘Money Mindsets: Science-Based Stories to Rewire your Money Beliefs, Goals, & Habits’.
In it, he explores that he way we behave when it comes to money, comes from beliefs about it, that we’ve adopted from our families, socio-cultural environment, an...
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November 27, 2023 • 71 mins
What do you think of when you hear the word 'error'? It's highly likely you'll think of it negatively as a defect. The obvious way to manage defects, particularly in safety-critical industries, is to have detailed procedures, strict compliance, and zero tolerance for errors. But we know that this doesn't always work. After all, if it did, we'd have far fewer errors.
My guest on this episode takes a different approach. He specializes...
My guest on this episode takes a different approach. He specializes...
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