Tag Archives: Decision-making

Positive Risk-Taking, Working with Risk

Why Positive Risk-Taking is so misunderstood

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‘A horse walked into a bar…’ (you can make up the rest… my version is that the bartender asked “what’s with the long face?”) So, you think you know what Positive Risk-Taking is… well, get it from the horse’s mouth…

A horse walks into a bar

There is no ‘Positive Risk’ in Positive Risk-Taking! Yet I have long since lost count of the number of times I have heard the phrase, such as “I am taking a positive risk.” What does that even mean?

As the person who initiated the concept back in 1994, I have always been very clear in communicating precisely what the phrase means.

And why should this even matter? Well, if you are not clear in what you are communicating, the oft-repeated message in all of those incident inquiries that “… communication broke down” will inevitably continue to be the case.

Ask 10 people what ‘Positive Risk’ means, and you might just get at least 11 different answers. For me, the positive is NOT about the risk; it IS about the outcomes. Why do we take a risk? Because we want to gain the benefit of the positive outcome of such an action.

Positive Risk-Taking is at the root of best practice in risk decision-making. It embodies a structured approach to clearly reasoned risk decisions.

To find out more about how good risk assessment practice informs the concept, and the role of mindset in making challenging risk decisions with confidence, check out my FREE training webinar by using the following link:

https://positiverisktaking.lpages.co/risk-aversion-risk-taking-webinar

Consistency in the use and understanding of language across our organisations is essential for underpinning best practice.

A Strengths Approach, Person-centred working, Personal passions, Positive Risk-Taking, Practice development, Working with Risk

Positive Risk-Taking webinar

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So you think you know what ‘Positive Risk-Taking‘ is? Well, reflect again on that statement, as I created it back in 1994, and I have come across many people who lazily misinterpret the language and get the true meaning wrong.

Are you occasionally, or often maybe, confronted with a need to make a challenging risk decision? Well, if so, read on, as I have good news for you…

Logo 2019

Click on the link below to register for instant access to my latest webinar, outlining 5 simple steps to clear and confident risk decision-making. The webinar outlines my original creation of the concept of Positive Risk-Taking, along with access to a comprehensive range of resources for implementing best practice.

https://positiverisktaking.lpages.co/risk-aversion-risk-taking-webinar

Positive Risk-Taking

Paris Conference Presentation

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The following was the abstract I submitted for the keynote presentation at the recent Mental Health Congress in Paris (9-11/7/18):

Positive Risk-Taking: From Rhetoric to Reality

Do we pay enough attention to the impact that the language we use has on the people we serve, and the ways in which we serve them? Our adherence to professional jargon more often serves to exclude and/or confuse other people. This is most notable in the language of risk, particularly where the negative connotations can often drive a blame culture and promote an unnecessary risk averse approach. Where is the person within such a picture?

Assessing and manging risk is an essential skill; but, so to is calculated and reasoned risk-taking. My concept of ‘Positive Risk-Taking’, initiated in 1994, brings the language of risk, strengths and person-centred outcomes together in a clear and sharp focus. As a concept, it is underpinned by the principles and practice of good risk assessment and management, applicable to all facets of mental health, wider health, and social care considerations.

The concept is focused on the outcomes, rather than solely being led by the risks. Taking risks for positive outcomesrequires a clear definition and description; but, it is also underpinned by the fully recognized components of mental health good practice… focused and contextualized risk assessment is counter-balanced by a full strengths assessment; supervision and support is complemented by teamwork and team-focused training. Collective decision-making enables balanced and reasoned risk-taking decisions to be made with confidence, and the identification of individual responsibilities for action to be outlined within a thoughtful plan.

Welcoming the audience to the presentation:

Steve-Morgan_Euro-Mental-Health-2018,-Paris

A partial link to what you missed!

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Nmes1fRYvhkBTSLw0rXk8w7yuoxKdTkN

Fielding a question or two:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1pytmlqXLHoxJc8KKu20wZOT49xjpaKoa

And sharing in the post presentation accolades (holiday snapshots time !!):

Paris Congress 2018

Practice development, Working with Risk, You Tube training videos

Making risk decisions

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Risk decisions are challenging, and can be difficult, but should not be governed by fear and a ‘what if’ syndrome. In this video I use four separate quotes to help us reflect on our decision-making processes.

 

Use the following link to also access a free training webinar which introduces my simple 5-step process to risk decision-making, which also form the core modules of the Positive Risk-Taking Membership Site:

https://app.webinarjam.net/register/21360/99e6026a97

Practice development, Working with Risk, You Tube training videos

Collaborative risk decisions

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Risk Decision-Making

Risk decisions are frequently challenging situations to us individually. A risk averse stance can be expected, not least out of the thoughts for self preservation. Collaborative decision-making provides the foundation for increased information, collective reflection, and confidence through shared accountability.

Use the following link to also access a free training webinar which introduces my simple 5-step process to risk decision-making, which also form the core modules of the Positive Risk-Taking Membership Site:

https://app.webinarjam.net/register/21360/99e6026a97

 

Organisations, Teams, Working with Risk, You Tube training videos

A Focus on Risk Training

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Risk Decision-Making    Working with risk and making risk decisions is an essential part of the work of any practitioner in health and social care settings. But, is our risk training really fit for purpose in many organisations? The following short video sets out the case for a training strategy focused more on teams, in order to be a more effective use of time and resources.

 

Use the following link to also access a free training webinar which introduces my simple 5-step process to risk decision-making, which also form the core modules of the Positive Risk-Taking Membership Site:

https://app.webinarjam.net/register/21360/99e6026a97

 

Positive Risk-Taking, You Tube training videos

Taking risks for positive outcomes

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Positive Risk-Taking logoThe following short video is a message focusing on a main theme presented in my Positive Risk-Taking Membership Site.

Use the following link to access a free training webinar which introduces my simple 5-step process to risk decision-making, which also form the core modules of the Positive Risk-Taking Membership Site:

https://app.webinarjam.net/register/21360/99e6026a97

Podcast Episodes, Positive Risk-Taking, Practice development

Podcast Episode 091: Positive Risk-Taking in practice

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TheStrengthsRevolution_albumart_2-2It’s one thing to have a great idea but another entirely to put it successfully into practice, particularly if it is about delivering on difficult and challenging decisions. What does it take to put positive risk-taking into practice with clarity and confidence?

This was a concept I developed in 1994 and have been refining and implementing with so many people in the intervening years. Everyone wants to feel like they do good risk-taking practice, but when examined closely there are a plethora of obstacles to be overcome in the process.

In this episode I outline a list of 14 essential ingredients for putting positive risk-taking into practice. A combination of shared understanding by individuals, teams and organisation management is a good starting point; but that is often difficult enough to achieve. I outline the value of strengths-based practice for underpinning good risk-taking decisions, as well as consensus in teams, adequate training, supervision and support, and the application of checklists and tools I designed specifically for the purpose.

For the full content of this episode click on the links to iTunes and Sound Cloud (or go to Stitcher Radio):

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/strengths-revolution-steve/id867043694

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/091-positive-risk-taking-in/id867043694?i=359052989&mt=2

“If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always gotten.” [Tony Robbins].

“Life is inherently risky. There is only one big risk you should avoid at all costs, and that is the risk of doing nothing.” [Denis Waitley].

A Strengths Approach, Person-centred working, Podcast Episodes

Podcast Episode 031: Say hi to Dave

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TheStrengthsRevolution_albumart_2-2Dave is a reported case example (not interview) of someone advancing in age and who is not only coming to terms with complex health problems, but is also adamant about exerting his own views of what a plan for his life should look like when in contact with health care professionals.

Dave has recently lost his wife in a road traffic accident, and his children are concerned about his care needs as he is now diagnosed with Alzheimers disease. Dave puts his strengths to work, using skills he has developed over many years as a financial advisor, as well as his passion for reading up about his condition and the way services should work for him, not making him fit into a standard bureaucratic process. He challenges his local services to be genuinely person-centred and flexible in the way they meet with him, listen to him, and document his wishes. He also makes it very clear that he will not become a token gesture to service user involvement by refusing an invitation to join a local strategic committee.

To access the full content of this episode click on the links to iTunes and Sound Cloud (or go to Stitcher Radio):

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/strengths-revolution-steve/id867043694

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/031-say-hi-to-dave/id867043694?i=321218937&mt=2

“It is not true that people stop pursuing dreams because they grow old, they grow old because they stop pursuing dreams.” [Gabriel Garcia Marquez].

A Strengths Approach, Podcast Episodes, Positive Risk-Taking

Podcast Episode 021: Strengths & Decision-Making

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TheStrengthsRevolution_albumart_2-2How do we go about making decisions? The answer partly depends on the situations or circumstances we are in… ‘situational decision-making’ is an assessment of the situation followed by a quick mental simulation of the likely outcome of our chosen course of action. It is based in experience, responds to pressures on available time, and helps us manage ambiguous detail. It is a partly intuitively based approach to decision-making.

Alternatively, ‘analytical decision-making’ is a more structured approach applied to research, clinical and other work situations where masses of abstract data need processing, or a range of different people come together to make a decision.

Ultimately it is not so much about finding the right or wrong decision, but more about our ‘confidence’ in the decisions we have made. Confidence will be underpinned by a focus on the strengths that can be identified and productively applied as a crucial component in our approach to making decisions. An absence of identified strengths can still offer confidence, but in these circumstances it will be confidence in making the more risk averse decisions.

For the full content of this episode click on the links to iTunes and Sound Cloud (or go to Stitcher Radio):

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/strengths-revolution-steve/id867043694

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/021-strengths-decision-making/id867043694?i=318067222&mt=2

“When possible make the decisions now, even if action is in the future. A reviewed decision usually is better than one reached at the last moment.” [William B Given].