36 MARCH 2021 First Determine What Is Normal - Every environment has a baseline, in other words, what normal looks, sounds, smells, and feels like for that locale or setting. When you know the baseline, then you can be on the alert for anomalies. SA is about spotting red flags - recognizing abnormal, unusual, or inconsistent occurrences, behavior, or things which don’t belong in that time and place. Don’t ignore the little things. It can be fun to practice SA when you are walking in a crowd. Try to notice things about the people around you, such as what they are wearing and carrying. What is their emotional state - are they relaxed or nervous? Observe their mannerisms; are they normal, quirky, or aggressive? Make your people watching purposeful; situational awareness is a mindset you must intentionally develop. Make it fun, and turn it into a game. When you are out and about, pick certain things to look for, such as the exits in a restaurant, and then give yourself points for finding them. Situational Awareness is Also About Finding Opportunity - I mentioned above that SA is also about noticing opportunities. You may recall from my article Uncovering the Habits of Innovators [August 2018 WWDR], that the primary habit of innovators is to routinely expose themselves to different viewpoints and new stimuli. Creative thinkers and inventors seek out new information and attempt to experience as many new things as possible. The reason is because the more diverse data you have in your brain, the more material you have for making new connections and combinations. So, while you are out there watching out for danger, you may as well look for creative opportunities too. Once you’ve developed this skill, you will start to notice change early. Dealing with change is frequently a challenge, but if you recognize it soon enough, you can prepare better for it. Mindful Situational Awareness Includes Questioning the Media - Situational Awareness is not just for your physical surroundings. You should extend it to media and the online world. If you read or watch something that makes you angry or frightened, then it is a sign you need to get more information on that topic. Not just for your safety, but to make certain you are getting the truth. We are living in the era of fake news, indoctrination, and propaganda; it is essential to think critically. For example; I recently came across a fact-check organization refuting a story I read. So, I fact-checked the fact-checker and found they are funded by some decidedly biased people, which rendered their checking of the facts worthless. Finally, is situational awareness simply an overreaction to a mostly safe world? I don’t think so, but then there’s this bit of graffiti I found on a bathroom wall: “Just because you’re PARANOID doesn’t mean they are NOT out to get you.” Robert Robert is an innovation/change speaker, author, and consultant. He works with companies that want to be more competitive through innovation and with people who want to think more creatively. Contact him via e-mail to michele@ worldwidedrillingresource.com Wilson cont’d from page 22. May Issue Deadlines! Space Reservation: March 25th Display & Classified Ad Copy: April 1st
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDk4Mzk=