June 17 2020
By: Shawn M. Galloway
When things do not go as planned, how adaptable and quick-responding you are will be your primary competitive advantage.
Agility is the ability to move or respond with ease and speed. Leaders within companies that pivot like it was preplanned when facing this pandemic to remain of value, are agile. How agile are you as a leader and with your approaches to safety improvement? If you or your efforts are too rigid, they can fracture.
Resilience is observed with those who adapt successfully when experiencing tragic events or other significant sources of personal or work-related stress. The first half of 2020 has provided an abundance of stressors. COVID-19 took many by surprise. Agile safety leaders quickly inserted themselves into the strategic discussions regarding business continuity planning. Despite the way things were always done being quickly thrown out the window, ground was never lost with the progress towards safety excellence. Resilient and imaginative leaders promptly adapted and successfully overcame.
How companies spend their resources is a matter of priorities and perceived value. Efforts to improve safety performance and culture should be of value and create the perception of value. We must focus on the right things. However, if we see value in our area of focus but employees or leadership do not, funding will be pulled and a culture of have-to rather than want-to is created.
Leaders who prove agility and resilience not only survive, they thrive. Look for ways to demonstrate both to employees and leaders within your company as often as possible. Be the strategic safety leader your company needs. You can't afford not to.
Stay healthy and safe.
Shawn M. Galloway, President
ProAct Safety, Inc.
+1.936.273.8700
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.
