Decision-Making Priorities & Risk with André-Jean Maheu

Why do backcountry accidents happen? What can we reduce the chance of them happening to us?In this episode, Chris and Jordy are joined again by Colin Zacharius to hear his take on some of the common mistakes that peoplåe can make that lead to accidents.Colin is a well-known ACMG / IFMGA Mountain Guide and Canadian Avalanche Association Avalanche Professional. Colin has worked in the adventure industry since 1980 as a guide, guide trainer, avalanche educator, accident investigator, risk management specialist and speaker.Colin leans into his extensive experience to share some of the common mistakes that people can make that lead to accidents.Key TakeawaysThings we need to know about accidents:Near Miss Learning Opportunities: In a near miss (which is a no accident or low consequence event) we can experience the same emotions and learning, without the actual harm or loss. We can then change how we do things, incorporate increased risk management procedures and improve our pre-activity analysis. This can be a net positive outcome.Post Accident Planning: You need to have a plan for dealing with what is required post-incident. Don’t wait until you have an incident to try and make it up as you go. This includes having proper insurance coverage.Common Avalanche Accident Factors: A high percentage of avalanche accidents occur on a deeply buried layer (deeper than 40cm). Not recognizing low probability, high consequence avalanches (could be a smaller avalanche, but in terrain that has trees, cliffs, crevasses, or terrain traps). Basing decisions too heavily on tests on adjacent slopes, and spatial variability results in triggering an avalanche where we do travel.How we can reduce the risk of an accident:Change Perception: Instead of looking at terrain as a ski/snowboard run, try looking at it as what is an avalanche path vs what is not. Use the Avalanche Terrain Exposure Scale and the Avaluator, which ask specific questions and the result puts you on a heat map. You can then dial back your terrain choices to be more toward the green.Reduce Vulnerability: Reduce your vulnerability by wearing helmets, consider wearing an avalanche airbag backpack, and make sure your equipment is in good condition. Clear snow and ice out of your bindings so they don’t release prematurely. Wear eyewear when you are descending in treed areas.You can’t actively reduce the hazard to you and your group, so choose terrain that is within your risk tolerance, while thinking ahead to what the consequences could be.Reduce Exposure: Reduce your exposure (both time and number of people). Ease into the terrain, use good group management by not exposing more than one person to the danger, and don’t keep stepping it up until you trigger something.If you find terrain and conditions that are working well for you, consider staying there rather than keep pushing into higher risk, higher consequence areas.Increase Resiliency: Train, keep physically and mentally fit, and really try to avoid getting injured.Guest BioColin Zacharius is well renowned ACMG /IFMGA Mountain Guide who has worked in the adventure industry since 1980. Colin has worked as a guide, guide trainer, avalanche educator, accident investigator, risk management specialist and speaker.He has worked extensively in the cat skiing and Heli-skiing industry in Canada and the US. He has trained and examined guides across multiple disciplines for the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides where he previously served as the technical director.Colin has contracted as an instructor, course leader, and recently as a curriculum developer for Canadian Avalanche Association (CAA) Industry Training Programs (Level 1-3). He has also provided consulting services for the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education.His guiding work has included ski touring, trekking, and climbing adventures with individuals and small groups to domestic and exotic locations (New Zealand, Morocco, Costa Blanca Spain, the Alps, the Dolomites, the Canadian Arctic, Iceland, and the Antarctic Peninsula).Guest LinksContact Colin: [email protected] or SubscribeDon’t forget to follow the show!Share & Social Linkshttps://linktr.ee/deliveringadventureMentioned in this episode:ISSW 20262026 International Snow Science Workshop: www.issw2026.com

Improving Decision Making – How We Think - with André-Jean Maheu One of the human factors that is common in adventure decision making is motivation. Motivation can cause us to prioritize choices that offer rewards ahead of safety. It can influence us to prioritize meeting our needs ahead of the needs of others. And it can also cause us to prioritize the safety of others ahead of our own personal safety.One way that we can reduce the chance of our motivation causing errors in our judgement is to ensure that we are prioritizing safety and service in the right order.In this episode, we are going to discuss the decision-making prioritization model which is commonly used in parts of the snow sports world including at Vail Resorts.In this episode, André-Jean Maheu joins Chris and Jordy to discuss how our priorities should be influencing our judgement.AJ is an avalanche professional and member of the Canadian Ski Guide Association. He has also worked as a professional ski patroller for the past 20 years. He is active in many spheres of the avalanche industry including forecasting for industrial operations, search and rescue, and ski resorts as well as instructing and guiding.AJ leans into his career as a rescuer, avalanche forecaster, ski patroller, first aid instructor and guide to help us to discuss how we can ensure we are prioritizing the right motivations when we are making decisions. We are also going to see if there are some conflicts with how we prioritize safety and service and see if we can reduce the chance of these conflicts impacting our judgement.Key TakeawaysHow the Prioritization Model Works: This works like a checklist that can help us to demonstrate a reasoned thought process that we can explain afterwards.Prioritization Order: Safety of Self, Safety of Others, Service to Others, then Service to Self.Rationale: Your safety comes first because you can’t help others if you get hurt. Their safety comes next, because everyone wants to finish the day safe, regardless of their objectives. Then we help other to succeed which helps us to succeed.Safety of Self: Your safety comes first so you can help to protect others. you should also be making decisions with the idea that you are not just choosing what your current self wants to do. It should also involve how your future self may view the situation and potential consequences.Safety of Others: Regardless of the objectives people may say they want to achieve, ultimately no one really wants to get hurt. People may think they can accept serious consequences, but when people say or think this, they often don’t really believe bad outcomes will actually happen to them.Service to Others: It is important to remember that people won’t enjoy their achievements if they get hurt in the process. They also won’t appreciate them if you get hurt either. It can be tempting to prioritize service ahead of safety, especially when expectations have been set. However, we need to remember that safety always needs to be prioritized ahead of service such as experience delivery and achievement.Service to Self: This can sometimes be safety of self of the action needed to be taken relates to self-care. Recognizing when service to yourself is really safety of yourself is important.Avoiding Conflicts: The best way to avoid conflicts between priorities is to avoid putting yourself in situations where you might be forced to choose between priorities. An example is not putting yourself in a situation where you have to put your safety at risk to rescue someone else.Meeting all Priorities: One of the key principles of influence is; the best way to get what you want, is to help others get what they want. This is why the last priority is service to self.Guest BioAJ Maheu began his career in the outdoor industry over 30 years ago. After spending a decade instructing, guiding river trips in Québec, and hikes from Alaska to the Andes he shifted his focus to emergency response in remote settings. He worked as a paramedic on worksites on Baffin Island and began a 20-year-career teaching wilderness first aid. He has taught emergency preparedness and first aid in multiple adventure travel guide programs in 6 different colleges and universities across the country.AJ Maheu is an avalanche professional and member of the Canadian Ski Guides Association. He has also worked as a professional ski patroller for the past 20 years. He is active in many spheres of the avalanche industry including forecasting for industrial operations, search and rescue, and ski resorts as well as instructing and guiding.AJ has been producing the North Shore Snowpack YouTube channel, providing weekly snowpack information to backcountry users and is a brand ambassador for Nano Traino, manufacturer of high quality, packable emergency evacuation toboggans. When not working, he is busy delivering adventures for his 2 boys, taking them on family adventures.Guest LinksNorth Shore Snowpack YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/@northshoresnowpack?si=eZClzV6KePi3hYwbNano Traino: https://nanotraino.com/en/André-Jean Maheu Contact: [email protected] or SubscribeDon’t forget to follow the show!Share & Social Linkshttps://linktr.ee/deliveringadventureMentioned in this episode:ISSW 20262026 International Snow Science Workshop: www.issw2026.com

How does our thinking affect our decision-making? The Nobel prize winning psychologist Daniel Kahneman first shared the idea of system 1 and system 2 thinking in his groundbreaking book Thinking Fast and Slow.In this episode, Andre-Jean Maheu joins Chris and Jordy to discus System 1 and 2 thinking systems and how that affects our decision making.AJ is an avalanche professional and member of the Canadian Ski Guide Association. He has also worked as a professional ski patroller for the past 20 years. He is active in many spheres of the avalanche industry including forecasting for industrial operations, search and rescue, and ski resorts as well as instructing and guiding.AJ shares his perspective of making high risk decisions while using both fast intuitive thinking and slower, reasoned thinking. He also talks about the advantages and disadvantages of both and what you need to know to make better decisions involving risk.This is another thought-provoking episode that is relevant to all aspects of our lives from the mountains to the office and beyond.Key TakeawaysMetric of a Good Decision: A good decision can be defined as a choice that looks good well after the fact, not just in the moment. It might have a good outcome, but a good decision really should be based on the process you used.System 1 Thinking: This harnesses pattern recognition and heuristics. This allows us to make decisions fast often on a sub conscious level. Decisions made with System 1 can often be measured in seconds.System 2 Thinking: This is more reasoned thinking that carefully considers many factors more slowly and thoroughly. Decisions made with System 2 can often be measured in minutes.Advantages: System 1 uses little effort and is great for making quick decisions. System 2 works well for making more complex decisions in newer environments.Disadvantages: Because System 1 thinking relies on pattern recognition recognition, it is prone to making errors in situations where a person does not have experience. System 2 requires a lot of mental energy and time making it impractical for decsions that need quick answers or decisions that need to be made continuously.Improving Thinking: Involve others to reduce bias and blindness (where we miss information). Use rules-based decision making and checklists. Use comparisons instead of relying on numbers-based systems to rate things.Improving Quick Decision Making: Use priming to bring patterns and correct responses to front of mind just before they may be needed. Develop and practice patterns like movements or procedures before they needed. Recognize when to switch to System 2 such as newer more complex situstions.Guest BioAJ Maheu began his career in the outdoor industry over 30 years ago. After spending a decade instructing, guiding river trips in Québec, and hikes from Alaska to the Andes he shifted his focus to emergency response in remote settings. He worked as a paramedic on worksites on Baffin Island and began a 20-year-career teaching wilderness first aid. He has taught emergency preparedness and first aid in multiple adventure travel guide programs in 6 different colleges and universities across the country.AJ Maheu is an avalanche professional and member of the Canadian Ski Guides Association. He has also worked as a professional ski patroller for the past 20 years. He is active in many spheres of the avalanche industry including forecasting for industrial operations, search and rescue, and ski resorts as well as instructing and guiding.AJ has been producing the North Shore Snowpack YouTube channel, providing weekly snowpack information to backcountry users and is a brand ambassador for Nano Traino, manufacturer of high quality, packable emergency evacuation toboggans. When not working, he is busy delivering adventures for his 2 boys, taking them on family adventures.Guest LinksNorth Shore Snowpack YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/@northshoresnowpack?si=eZClzV6KePi3hYwbNano Traino: https://nanotraino.com/en/André-Jean Maheu Contact: [email protected] or SubscribeDon’t forget to follow the show!Share & Social Linkshttps://linktr.ee/deliveringadventureMentioned in this episode:Granite Built for MountainsAccess your one month free offer here: https://link.getgranite.co/r/deliveringadventureISSW 20262026 International Snow Science Workshop: www.issw2026.comGranite Built for MountainsAccess your one month free offer here: https://link.getgranite.co/r/deliveringadventure

Giving Feedback Effectively with Tami LyonHow can we deliver feedback in a way that makes it effective? One thing that can cause a lot of damage to people’s confidence and relationships with each other is giving and receiving feedback. Being able to deliver performance related feedback in a way that is both effective and welcomed, is an art unto itself.In this episode, Tami Lyon joins Chris and Jordy to discuss strategies that we can all use to deliver feedback more effectively.Tami Lyon, an executive leader, entrepreneur, and communication expert whose career spans leadership development, business growth, and the snow-sports industry. Tami currently serves as Director of Skier Services at Heavenly Mountain Resort, where she leads large-scale resort operations.Tami shares how we can improve our ability to give feedback, especially in more difficult circumstances. These can include when there is a power dynamic working against us like when we are giving feedback to people who may be older or who may have more experience than us. Difficult situations can also include giving people feedback when they don’t believe they need it or they don’t want it.Key Takeaways How we can deliver feedback more effectively:Start With the Right Mindset: Avoid being angry and confrontational. Instead, we should go in with the attitude that we are trying to help the people we are giving feedback to, to become better.Communicate Intentions: When we communicate that our intention is to help people to become even better, it can take away any belief that we are just trying to put people down or to criticize them. This can reduce defensiveness and increase buy in.Connect Feedback to Goals: Linking the feedback to the overall goal can also make it less personal and more objective. An example is having someone agree that they want to do something better and then linking feedback to achieving that objective.Be Adaptable: It is really important to adapt our communication style to the person and the moment. Some situations call for a less direct, softer approach while some people prefer that we get to the point quickly.Be Prepared: Knowing what we want to say beforehand can make the experience less stressful for us and can help us to convey more competence to the other person. There is nothing worse than fumbling your words or back tracking when giving important feedback.Grow Model: G – this is what was your goal, R – this is what is the reality, or what is going on or has been happening, O – this is what options exist, W – this is what the way forward is or the plan.SBI Model: Situation, behaviour, impact. Step 1: Describe the Situation. Step 2: Describe the behaviour you observed. Step 3: Describe what you thought or felt in reaction to the behaviour.Consider Needs: Feedback is about building connection. Building strong connections between people requires that we understand who they are, what their needs are and what they need to accomplish. Guest BioTami Lyon, an executive leader, entrepreneur, and communication expert whose career spans leadership development, business growth, and the snow-sports industry. Tami currently serves as Director of Skier Services at Heavenly Mountain Resort, where she leads large-scale resort operations. She has served as a fractional CEO and executive advisor, and helped organizations transform strategy, culture, and performance. With a master's degree in communication and experience leading more than 14,000 learning experiences for over 100,000 people, she's passionate about leadership, team development, and the transformative power of effective communication.Guest Links & Resources:Heavenly Mountain Resort: https://www.skiheavenly.comGROW Model: https://www.mindtools.com/your-toolkit/coaching-goals/grow-model/SBI Model: https://www.ucalgary.ca/hr/training-development/connect-perform/one-one-meetings/sbi-modelFollow or SubscribeDon’t forget to follow the show!Share & Social Linkshttps://linktr.ee/deliveringadventure

People have been recording their adventures for tens of thousands of years. From cave drawings, to songs, to cell phone selfies and GoPro videos. Wanting to have a record of our achievements has always been a very human need.Capturing our adventures is an integral part of the experience that helps us to tell the story of what happened. When done well, it can add value to an experience and depending on how it’s done. It can even redefine our memory of what happened after the fact.In this episode of Delivering Adventure, Jordy and Chris are joined by award winning adventure photographer Mike Crane to discuss how you can record adventure for yourself and others like a pro.Mike shares some of the lessons he has learned working as a professional adventure photographer. Capturing adventure is an integral part of the experience and this episode explores how you take your photography and videography farther.Key TakeawaysManaging expectations: Not everyday is going to have perfect weather or conditions. The people you are with might not be that photogenic or end up where you want them to be either. For this reason, arriving with an open mind to just embrace what happens is key.The goal should be to look for opportunities to capture that special moment based on the conditions and what happens.The Goal: Is to Make them look good in the landscape. This might mean capturing people in action or even just standing there.Only need a Moment: you need a fraction of a second for everything to go well to get that great shot.Good communication: Getting people in the right place, getting them to do what you want takes coordination. As Mike said, you may not want people to improvise when you are trying to get them to do a certain move in a certain spot. You may also want them to look natural.Capturing the Special Moment: Can include getting those transitional moments like storms or just capturing the experience through fun moments or even rest moments. It doesn’t always have to be action shots all the time.Guest BioBased in Whistler, Mike Crane has been working in the adventure industry as a photographer and videographer for the past twenty years. Early in his career he worked as an action photographer for Powder Mountain Cat skiing as well as taking portrait shots and action photos at Whistler Blackcomb. More recently, he has worked as the staff photographer for Tourism Whistler as well as a freelance photographer. His work has taken him around the world photographing in many different landscapes. It has also involved working with a variety of levels of people from first time skiers to pro athletes.Mike has won a number of awards from publications including Canadian Geographic, Your Daily Photograph and Lenswork Magazine.Guest LinksMike Crane Photography: www. mikecranephotography.comMike Crane Instagram: @mikecranephotographyFollow or SubscribeDon’t forget to follow the show!Share & Social Linkshttps://linktr.ee/deliveringadventureEpisode Cover Art Credit: Mike Crane

How can we adapt to new cultures when we are travelling or working aboard?In this episode we look at culture from the perspective of being an international visitor or someone working in another culture. Being immersed in another culture gives us a unique opportunity to see how other people live. It also gives us a great opportunity to see what it feels like to be a visitor. You may find yourself leading people from different cultures, putting yourself in the position of being the visitor can be a valuable way of understanding things from their perspective.Joining Chris and Jordy in this episode to discuss how we can better adapt to new cultures is Patrick Barrow. Patrick Barrow has been guiding around the globe for 20 years, toggling between adventure travel and outdoor education. Pat is an ACMG Hiking Guide who has worked extensively in Central Asia, Western China, Southeast Asia, Russia, the Himalayas, Australia, Europe and Canada.This is another engaging conversation that offers practical strategies on how we can integrate into new cultures.Key TakeawaysTo adapt to new cultures, we can:Observe: This is where we we watch behaviours and habits, looking for what is normal for them.Integrate: This is where we participate, join in and interact on the level they are interacting in.Manipulate: This is where we copy what people are doing, mirroring behaviours.Amalgamate: This is where we put everything together to the point where we get a level of acceptance within the group or culture.Respect Ego: This means being aware of not causing others to lose face by challenging their ego. Not respecting the ego of others can cause serious relationship damage.Guest BioPatrick Barrow has been guiding around the globe for 20 years, toggling between adventure travel and outdoor education.A student of anthropology, originally from Australia, Pat's path into adventure guiding came through travel. Pat has worked across Europe and Australia, parts of the Indian and Nepalese Himalaya, the Stans and the Silk Road of Central Asia and West China, jungles of South East Asia, on the Yamal Peninsular of Arctic Russia with Indigenous Reindeer Herders, and most recently Canada.Pat’s career focus has been on facilitating formative expeditions for both youth and adults in culturally remote locations around the world. In particular living a decade between Kyrgyzstan and Russia, and guiding locally in Kyrgyzstan across the Tienshan Mountains. Guiding locally has given a unique perspective in working across cultures and what it takes to manage international teams.In Canada Pat is an ACMG hiking guide and an Outdoor Council of Canada Instructor.In Australia Pat has Cert IV in Outdoor Recreation, Cert IV in Outdoor Leadership, Cert IV Trainer & Assessor and is an Associate Fellow of the Academy of Extreme Environment Medicine.Guest LinksTengrie Expeditions: www.tengriexpeditions.comPatrick Barrow Contact: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-barrow-83712b36Patrick Barrow Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tengriexpeditions?igsh=MTI4dnlmZTNrZWNheg==Resource LinksFeedspot Top 30 Pacific Northwest Adventure Podcasts: LinkFollow or SubscribeDon’t forget to follow the show!Share & Social Linkshttps://linktr.ee/deliveringadventure

What do leaders need to be aware of when they are leading people from different cultures? People from different cultures may use different language, and have different customs, behaviours, values and even risk tolerances than you are used to. They may also have different expectations and tastes, as well as a different world view.What may be acceptable to you, may not be acceptable to them and vice versa. This can create challenges for leaders if they do not know how to adapt their leadership effectively.In this episode of Delivering Adventure, Patrick Barrow joins Chris and Jordy to share some key strategies that leaders can use to build better connections across cultures. Pat has worked as guide across Central and Southeast Asia, Europe, Canada and Australia.Patrick shares his experiences working with indigenous reindeer herders in the arctic, leading guests across the Stans and adapting to a leadership role in his new home in Canada.Guest BioPatrick Barrow has been guiding around the globe for 20 years, toggling between adventure travel and outdoor education. A student of anthropology, originally from Australia, Pat's path into adventure guiding came through travel. Pat has worked across Europe and Australia, parts of the Indian and Nepalese Himalaya, the Stans and the Silk Road of Central Asia and West China, jungles of South East Asia, on the Yamal Peninsular of Arctic Russia with Indigenous Reindeer Herders, and most recently Canada. Pat’s career focus has been on facilitating formative expeditions for both youth and adults in culturally remote locations around the world. In particular living a decade between Kyrgyzstan and Russia, and guiding locally in Kyrgyzstan across the Tienshan Mountains. Guiding locally has given a unique perspective in working across cultures and what it takes to manage international teams. In Canada Pat is an ACMG hiking guide and an Outdoor Council of Canada Instructor.In Australia Pat has Cert IV in Outdoor Recreation, Cert IV in Outdoor Leadership, Cert IV Trainer & Assessor and is an Associate Fellow of the Academy of Extreme Environment Medicine. Guest LinksTengrie Expeditions: www.tengriexpeditions.comPatrick Barrow Contact: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-barrow-83712b36Patrick Barrow Instagram: LinkResource LinksFeedspot Top 30 Pacific Northwest Adventure Podcasts: LinkFollow or SubscribeDon’t forget to follow the show!Share & Social Linkshttps://linktr.ee/deliveringadventure

Why is it so important to imagine the worst-case scenario? What happens when we don’t?In this episode of Delivering Adventure, Chris and Jordy share a few examples from their adventure industry careers to illustrate the importance of considering the worst-case scenario. They also talk about some of the factors that can compromise our ability to foresee what can happen if things don’t go to plan and how we can avoid falling into these traps.Chris Kaipio has been working in the adventure guiding industry as a guide, instructor, trainer, manager and content developer since 1991.Jordy Shepard is an internationally certified ACMG / IFMGA Mountain Guide, guide trainer, an avalanche educator, rescue specialist, and a former park warden.Key TakeawaysHow we can imagine the wort-case scenario:Consider What can Reasonably Happen: This involves asking ourselves what all the possible negative outcomes could be and identifying if we are prepared if they come to pass.Be detail oriented: The difference between a professional and an amateur is being detail oriented. Considering all the details before hand gives us an opportunity to identify and plan for all the likely outcomes that may happen.Think ahead: This can require us to step away from complex situations so that we can fully consider the situation and what lies ahead.Ask if we are Missing Anything: Is there information that we might be missing? This is something that we should always be asking ourselves. This helps to avoid developing tunnel vision.Do your research: This can involve talking to others and looking at case-studies.Training and Simulations: This can give us firsthand experience with what can happen.Communicate the Risks Thoroughly: This creates an opportunity for everyone to understand what hazards they can expect to encounter.Guest BiosChris Kaipio is the produce and co-host of Delivering Adventure.He has worked in the adventure industry as an instructor, guide, trainer and manager since 2001.Chris is currently developing the Managing Risk on Snow eLearning Certification for the Professional Ski Instructors of Canada. When complete, this will be a robust four level online risk management and decision-making certification for guides and Instructors.Chris has written the book Power to Influence: How to get the best out of ourselves and others. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides. This is where he met Jordy Shepherd.Jordy Shepherd is the co-host of Delivering Adventure.Jordy is an internationally certified ACMG / IFMGA Mountain Guide, guide trainer, an avalanche educator, rescue specialist, and a former park warden.His work experience includes Canadian Avalanche Association Course Leader for Avalanche Search and Rescue Advanced Skills, Provincial Park Ranger, National Park Warden, Wildlife Conflict Specialist, Wildland and Structural Firefighter, Mountain and Industrial Rescue Specialist, Heli-skiing Operations Manager and Lead Guide, and Licensed Real Estate Agent.In addition to all of his work in the adventure guiding industry, Jordy runs a successful real estate company in Canmore Alberta where he currently lives with is family.Follow or SubscribeDon’t forget to follow the show!Share & Social Linkshttps://linktr.ee/deliveringadventure

Why is it so hard to make good decisions in higher risk situations? High risk situations are ones where a mistake, a miscalculation or a mishap can lead to serious or unmanageable consequences. These situations are the ones where uncertainty and the threat of experiencing serious consequences can apply pressure that can cloud our judgment.In this episode Chris and Jordy are joined by Colin Zacharius to explore how we can make better decisions in high-risk situations.Colin is well renowned ACMG /IFMGA Mountain Guide who has worked in the adventure industry since 1980. Colin has worked as a guide, guide trainer, avalanche educator, accident investigator, risk management specialist and speaker.He has worked extensively in the cat skiing and Heli-skiing industry in Canada and the US. He has trained and examined guides across multiple disciplines for the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides where he previously served as the technical director.Colin harnesses his extensive experience working in the adventure industry to help us to understand why it so hard to make good decisions in high-risk situations and how we can avoid some of the mistakes that he has seen throughout his career.Key TakeawaysHow to make better decisions in high-risk situations:Imagine: What the worst-case scenario could look like.Practice Good Habits: This includes taking the time to be well prepared, being situationally aware so that you know what is happening or likely to happen and being aware of any human factors that may negatively influence your judgment.Examine Decisions Afterwards: Either by getting peer feedback, debriefing with your team or by using self-assessment. The intention should be to examine decisions that are made regardless of the outcome, with the intent of identifying things that went well and areas that could be improved. What you really want to identify are trends.Build in an Adequate Margin of Error: This gives you a buffer in case of a mistake, misstep, miscalculation or there is a surprise.Avoid Normalizing High Risk Situations: When we become too comfortable in high-risk situations, we become complacent to the danger.Guest BioColin Zacharius is well renowned ACMG /IFMGA Mountain Guide who has worked in the adventure industry since 1980. Colin has worked as a guide, guide trainer, avalanche educator, accident investigator, risk management specialist and speaker.He has worked extensively in the cat skiing and Heli-skiing industry in Canada and the US. He has trained and examined guides across multiple disciplines for the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides where he previously served as the technical director.Colin has contracted as an instructor, course leader, and recently as a curriculum developer for Canadian Avalanche Association (CAA) Industry Training Programs (Level 1-3). He has also provided consulting services for the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education.His guiding work has included ski touring, trekking, and climbing adventures with individuals and small groups to domestic and exotic locations (New Zealand, Morocco, Costa Blanca Spain, the Alps, the Dolomites, the Canadian Arctic, Iceland, and the Antarctic Peninsula).Guest LinksContact Colin: [email protected] or SubscribeDon’t forget to follow the show!Share & Social Linkshttps://linktr.ee/deliveringadventure

How can we manage hazardous attitudes in ourselves and others?The FAA in the US has identified five hazardous attitudes that are present in human caused airline crashes. These five attitudes are anti-authority, impulsivity, invulnerability, macho and resignation. These attitudes can negatively impact judgment in any risk-taking situation.In this episode Geoff Powter shares how we can manage these hazardous attitudes in ourselves and others.Geoff Powter is a retired psychologist, an experienced climber, writer, and adventurer from the Canadian Rockies. He served as editor of the Canadian Alpine Journal for 13 years and has won 9 National Magazine Awards.Geoff has authored several books, including Strange and Dangerous Dreams, which won the Jury Prize at the 2006 Banff Mountain Book Festival and was adapted into a radio series. His second most recent book, Inner Ranges, won the Climbing Literature Prize at the Banff Festival in 2019 and the National Outdoor Book Award in the USA. His most recent book Survival Is Not Assured: The Life of Climber Jim Donini, is the Winner of National Outdoor Book Award in the USA.This is the second episode of two where Geoff, Jordy and Chris explore the five hazardous attitudes that can impact decision making and risk taking.Key TakeawaysHow to manage hazardous attitudes in ourselves and others:Anti-authority: Is the “do not tell me what to do,” mindset.To manage this, recognize that rules, guidelines and best practices exist to help us and follow them! To manage it in others, explain the reason why rules exist, give people control when you can, and involve people in decision making as much as possible.Impulsivity: Is the “do it quickly,” mindset.To manage this, be methodical, follow all the steps, and slow things down when we feel the need to rush into things.Also, make others aware of the risk of rushing into things and encourage them to follow systems and processes without skipping steps. This reduces the chance of errors and missing information. It also ensures everyone knows what to do.Invulnerability: Is the “It won’t happen to me,” mindsetTo manage this, remind yourself that bad outcomes can happen to anyone. For others, try to personalize the fact that bad outcomes can happen to anyone by highlighting mishaps that have happened to people they may know. This can include sharing your own stories of misadventure involving negative outcomes. This can help to make things more real.Macho: This is the “I can do it,” mindsetTo manage this, look for signs of overconfidence. Celebrate humility and model an objective approach to decision making that involves accepting that some things may be beyond our capabilities and that’s normal.Resignation: This is the “what’s the use,” mindset.To manage this, believe that you have the power to change or influence the situation you are in. Involve everyone in decision making and ensure everyone is heard. Acting on concerns or suggestions can also demonstrate to others that they do have the power to change their situation.Guest BioGeoff is a retired psychologist, an experienced climber, writer, and adventurer from the Canadian Rockies. He served as editor of the Canadian Alpine Journal for 13 years and has won 9 National Magazine Awards.Geoff has authored several books, including Strange and Dangerous Dreams, which won the Jury Prize at the 2006 Banff Mountain Book Festival and was adapted into a radio series. His second most recent book, Inner Ranges, won the Climbing Literature Prize at the Banff Festival in 2019 and the National Outdoor Book Award in the USA. His most recent book Survival Is Not Assured: The Life of Climber Jim Donini, is the Winner of National Outdoor Book Award in the USA.In 2012 Geoff was the recipient of the Summit of Excellence Award for lifetime contribution to Canadian mountain cultureGeoff has also hosted the Voices of Adventure interview event at the Banff Mountain Festival for 27 years. He currently serves on the board of Directors for the Alpine Club of Canada and Mountain Muscox.Guest LinksGeoff Powter: Survival is not Assured: The Life of Climber Jim Bonini Available at Amazon, Indigo Chapters, Mountaineers BooksGeoff Powter: Inner Ranges: An Anthology of Mountain Thoughts and Mountain People Available at Amazon, Indigo ChaptersGeoff Powter: Strange and Dangerous Dreams: The Fine Line Between Adventure and Madness Available at Amazon, Indigo Chapters, Mountaineers BooksFollow or SubscribeDon’t forget to follow the show!Share & Social Linkshttps://linktr.ee/deliveringadventure