February 13 2023
By: Shawn M. Galloway
Everyone needs to know and do their part for a vessel to navigate successfully. One part keeps the ship on course, another keeps it in place. Regardless of what is powering this ship, rudders keep it on the desired course or change the direction when necessary. The anchor prohibits progress forward, holding it in the current location.
Leaders in an organization serve either as the rudders or anchors. Both are important. The rudder gives direction, and course corrects when necessary. The anchor prevents elements from moving the ship when it needs to hold or stop. It is dangerous to charge forward without the right resources and plan, and leaders should not thwart necessary progress because a new direction is unfamiliar or undesirable.
A leader can't always be a rudder, and they can't stay anchored to old thinking or practices either. Do your leaders have the capacity to serve as a rudder and anchor, and know when to switch?
"You do not move ahead by constantly looking in a rearview mirror. The past is a rudder to guide you, not an anchor to drag you. We must learn from the past but not live in the past." — Warren W. Wiersbe
"In order to realize the worth of the anchor we need to feel the stress of the storm." — Corrie Ten Boom
"Leaders need to understand how profoundly they affect people, how their optimism and pessimism are equally infectious, how directly they set the tone and spirit of everyone around them." — D. Michael
Abrashoff, It's Your Ship: Management Techniques from the Best Damn Ship in the Navy
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.
