May 11 2026
By: Shawn M. Galloway
When leaders say, “We need better engagement,” they usually mean, “We need people to care more.” But engagement is rarely a motivation issue. It’s often a condition issue.
People hold back discretionary effort when speaking up feels risky, when fixing things feels pointless, or when everyone gets punished for one person’s mistake with more rules or policies.
Remove fear. Remove friction. Remove futility. And ownership shows up.
What if your engagement initiative is failing because you’re trying to inspire people you haven’t enabled? This week, ask your team one question: “What makes it difficult for the safe choice to be the easy choice?” Then, remove one barrier fast. That’s how trust and engagement actually begin.
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.
