Sophie Mirabella and the headdesk incident

In a final mention from Gladwell, Outliers considers research on aircraft safety. Those cultures with the highest power index, that is the inability for a subordinate to challenge their boss, had the highest incidence of plane crashes. The ability for the co-pilot to step in when circumstances required it provided an inbuilt safety mechanism that prevented disaster.

We have the ability, as a culture, to step in and say "let me have a go" or "hey, have you tried…" or simply "you are about to screw this up, just stop." We don't have issues with authority, we are not afraid to speak out. It would be very sad indeed if a culture that created the safest airline in the world was unable to cope with someone experiencing vulnerability on national television.

Embedded within our national lingo we have all the phrases we need. "Y'allright mate? You look a bit crook?" "Buggered that up didn't ya?" and "She'll be right. Next time's the shot."

They are also all the phrases we need to accept the diversity of human capability, fallability, and vulnerability, and just get on with giving people a fair go.