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On Target: The Leadership & Learning Podcast

On Target: The Leadership & Learning Podcast

Written by: Sam Gladman
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About this listen

 On Target: The Leadership & Learning Podcast explores what it takes to build high-performing teams in high-consequence environments. Hosted by the team behind On Target, each episode dives into the habits, mindsets, and conversations that drive exceptional performance — from the cockpit to the boardroom. We draw lessons from aviation, emergency response, sport, and business to uncover how leaders create cultures of safety, trust, and accountability. Expect stories, insights, and practical takeaways that help you and your team learn faster, communicate better, and lead with intent.2026 Sam Gladman Economics
Episodes
  • The Root Cause Is Where You Stopped Looking

    The Root Cause Is Where You Stopped Looking
    Apr 27 2026

    This week on Leadership and Learning with On Target, we're doing something a little different.

    Sam and Mike were guests at the Brisbane Safety Differently Book Club: a room full of safety and leadership professionals who came ready to ask hard questions. No script, no slides. Just an hour of genuinely candid conversation about what aviation gets right, and what every other industry is still getting wrong.

    They cover why root cause analysis is where learning goes to die, how military debriefs actually work, the CACA framework for turning lessons identified into lessons actually learned, and what it felt like to be 300 feet from another fast jet with half a second to react.

    Recorded live. A little raw. Worth it.

    Also available on YouTube — link in show notes.
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    40 mins
  • The right questions to ask when things go wrong

    The right questions to ask when things go wrong
    Mar 8 2026

    The conversation delves into the exploration of an F-16 crash report, understanding the context and behavior of the pilots, routine violations, the human factor in decision-making, leadership, and learning from normal behavior, and practical takeaways for leaders. Key takeaways include the normalization of behavior, learning from context and behavior, and recognizing early warning signs.

    Takeaways

    • Normalizing behavior
    • Learning from context and behavior
    • Recognizing early warning signs

    Chapters

    • 00:00 Exploring the F-16 Crash Report
    • 06:04 Routine Violations and Normalization of Deviance
    • 13:01 Leadership and Learning from Normal Behavior
    • 30:11 Practical Takeaways for Leaders
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    28 mins
  • Were we good, or were we lucky?

    Were we good, or were we lucky?
    Feb 18 2026

    The conversation covers the reflection on a previous project, limitations of software, feedback and lessons learned, observer roles and time pressure, accident investigation and hindsight bias, the F-35 fighter jet incident, decision-making and conditions, supporting good judgment, reflecting on success and conditions, and practical tools for learning. The key takeaways include learning from success and failure, and the impact of constraints on decision-making.

    Takeaways

    • Learning from success and failure
    • The impact of constraints on decision-making

    Chapters

    • 00:00 Reflecting on the Last Project
    • 08:09 Accident Investigation and Hindsight Bias
    • 13:09 Decision-Making and Conditions
    • 19:19 Reflecting on Success and Conditions
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    20 mins
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