HR Perspectives - April 2011
By: Shawn M. Galloway
Printable Version
Health, Safety and Environmental (HSE) professionals face an increasing challenge - one that intensifies with each new hypercompetitive priority. It is little wonder why organizations strive to move safety from a priority to a value. To create these shared values within an organization, they must be reinforced at or near the point of decision. In principle, this always holds true. In practice, accomplishing this grows increasing difficult.
Simply stating that safety is a value at an increasing frequency and passion does not make it so. The successful HSE leader of tomorrow cannot simply work towards value creation; they must become a transformational leader.
Since the recent global economic recession, the successful HSE practitioners have recognized and overcome the following three elements that obstruct one from becoming a transformational HSE professional. If not addressed, they too will trouble even the most passionate and effective leader.
Resources - The common statement, "Do more with less," is more reality than humor. If we are to be successful in anything we do, we must show and demonstrate sustainable value. Now is not the time for luxury trial-and-error, off-the-shelf programs, and niceties. Our global economy is moving towards efficient effectiveness at a greater pace than ever before. If it is not lean, it will not last. Thus, approaches that are an ineffective use of resources have failed before they begin. Becoming transformation will not occur through a squandering of our resources. Rather, it is accomplished through ensuring focus is perpetually on "value-add". The transformational leader ensures proactive data is leveraged to focus energy, rather than opinions.
Inspiration - To achieve minimal compliance, a balance of consequences is employed to shape behaviour. Desirable culturally-reinforced discretional effort is a byproduct of intrinsic motivation. The transformational leader works to ensure a culture is created that proactively seeks out and destroys demotivators. Effort is made, then, to inspire and recognize those employees who go above and beyond what is required in safety.
Support - Transformation results from strong support at all levels of the organization. It is not enough to have a caring leader. Support is perceived, not by your thoughts, but by your actions. The transformational leader defines support for all levels in the organization by observable actions and provides data and visible progress to ensure support increases and is sustainable.
Sustainable success is only accomplished through an established, shared passion at all levels for cultural and performance excellence. Passion is essential to prevent the structure that has been created from crumbling among the other hypercompetitive priorities and aforementioned barriers. However, the transformational leaders must realize they can't accomplish sustainable excellence alone.
Shawn Galloway, CEO of ProAct Safety, is an expert in safety excellence. With almost thirty years of experience, he is a highly sought-after advisor, keynote speaker, and expert witness. Shawn has become a trusted partner to leading organizations across various industries worldwide. He ranks in the top 1% of the most prolific writers in his field, having authored over 500 articles and several bestselling books. He also launched the world's first safety podcast, Safety Culture Excellence©. As a recognized authority in safety, Shawn has received awards such as being named among the Top 50 People Who Most Influence EHS and a Top 10 Speaker, among others.
He is a regular guest on Bloomberg, Fox News, The Daily Mail, Dubai One, U.S. News & World Report, Sirius Business Radio, Wharton Business Daily, and leading safety magazines and podcasts. Shawn also serves as a member of the Harvard Business Review Advisory Council, Forbes Business Council, and Fast Company Executive Board, enabling his influence to shape safety thinking and strategy at the executive level.
