The Real Intelligence Podcast with Jenny Swim
In a world moving towards artificial intelligence, what if you could reclaim your real one? Join leadership coach Jenny Swim to explore human intelligence through the lens of neuroscience, conscious observation, and story.
The Real Intelligence Podcast with Jenny Swim
37: Observe First: The Expert Skill Novices Often Miss
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In this episode of the Real Intelligence Podcast, Jenny Swim explores observation as a defining skill shared by experts across disciplines, from leadership and parenting to aviation, medicine, and emergency response. Drawing on neuroscience and the OODA Loop (Observe–Orient–Decide–Act), Jenny shows how observation creates the critical pause between stimulus and response—and why our bias toward speed and certainty often causes us to miss what matters most.
You’ll learn the difference between true observation and judgment, how autopilot and stress distort perception, and what happens when observation is rushed, as seen in the Boeing 737 MAX crisis. Jenny also shares practical, evidence-informed ways to strengthen your observation muscle, including the 10% Slower Rule and separating data from story. Whether you’re leading a team, raising a family, or navigating everyday decisions, this episode reveals how observing first leads to clearer orientation, better choices, and more aligned action.
Additional Resources:
National Research Council (2000). How People Learn: Brain, Mind, Experience, and School (Chapter 5). Read online
Stanford Medicine (2014). Expert pilots process multiple visual cues more efficiently. Read online
Hoffman, K. A., Aitken, L. M., & Duffield, C. (2009). Novice vs. expert nurses: How cue collection drives decision-making. PubMed
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