November 26 2017
By: Terry L. Mathis
Mark Twain said our problem is not so much what we don't know as it is what we know that ain't so. Individuals and organizations tend to base perceptions on their experience. When safety has gone well, they develop a false confidence it will continue. For workers, false confidence is the belief that, "It is not going to happen to me." For organizations, 
false confidence is the belief that current safety efforts are sufficient to maintain good performance based on recent experience.
True confidence should come from knowing exactly HOW you produced those great results and knowing you are able to repeat them. Such information is what Deming called "profound knowledge" and there is nothing false about that.
Terry Mathis, Founder and retired CEO of ProAct Safety, has served as a consultant and advisor for top organizations the world over. A respected strategist and thought leader, Terry has authored five books, numerous articles, videos and blogs, and is known for his dynamic and engaging presentations. EHS Today has named him one of the '50 People Who Most Influenced EHS' four consecutive times. Business leaders and safety professionals seek Terry's practical insight and unique ability to introduce new perspectives that lead to real change.
