February 27 2023
By: Shawn M. Galloway
So you want better engagement. Everyone does. But what type of engagement are you pursuing?
Engagement evolves across three types: Buy-In, Willing Participation, and Ownership. With your safety programs, systems and culture, do you have all three?
Buy-In: Do your employees and leaders buy into what you are doing to drive improvement? Do they feel they have a voice in the decisions, or are they just briefed on what was decided? It is hard to get someone to buy into something until they have had the opportunity to weigh in on that something. Buy-in comes first.
Willing Participation: Are employees agreeable and ready to do what needs to be done, or do they have to be coerced? Will they participate without prompting, reminders or constant oversight? Is your culture evolving past have-to and towards want-to? Without willing participation, what people do when the boss isn't around will be incongruent with expectations.
Ownership: When was the last time you had a rental car washed and detailed? Never? Why not? Do your leaders and employees feel a sense of ownership of your safety programs, systems and culture? Do they take care of it as they would something they are proud of in their possession? Is it something they own, or are they just renting it, doing the minimum necessary to get by?
Ownership is the best type of engagement. With this, naturally comes buy-in and willing participation. All three are essential and can be challenging to obtain. Give your employees and leadership a voice. Help them see the value in what needs to be done and, where possible, allow them some creative input into the what and how.
"When people go to work, they shouldn't have to leave their hearts at home." — Betty Bender
"TURNED ON people figure out how to beat the competition, TURNED OFF people only complain about being beaten by the competition." — Ben Simonton
"Research indicates that workers have three prime needs: Interesting work, recognition for doing a good job, and being let in on things that are going on in the company." — Zig Ziglar
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.
