June 13 2022
By: Shawn M. Galloway
What are the most memorable events within your culture that shape your thinking and storytelling? In a recent group text, someone sent a picture (like this one) and other items from the 1980s. I responded with, "5th-grade science class, January 1986, watching the Space Shuttle Challenger launch on the roll-in TV. I've always felt for my teacher. A room was full of students as the explosion occurred. Tearful silence." A friend responded, "Every time I see that picture/card image, that's exactly what I think of! Crazy."
In my life, this is one of those "I remember where I was when…" events that I will never forget that shape why I do what I do in my chosen profession. With people unfamiliar with these events within a society or corporation, as they join, they are passed on through storytelling, eventually generation by generation. If you are new to a group and want to know your team and culture or understand the why behind written and unwritten rules, seek to learn and understand the events that shaped them and what continues to shape the culture today.
Shawn M. Galloway is the CEO of ProAct Safety and an advisor to leading organizations across all major industries. With over twenty years of experience in safety systems, strategy, culture, leadership, and employee engagement, he is a trusted advisor, keynote speaker, and expert witness.
He is the author of several bestselling books and has multiple regular columns in leading magazines, with over 400 articles and 100 videos to his credit. He also created the first safety podcast, Safety Culture Excellence, with over 800 episodes. Shawn has received numerous prestigious accolades and has been featured in Power 101 Leaders of the EHS World, Top 50 People Who Most Influenced EHS, Top 40 Rising Stars, Top 11 Health and Safety Influencers, and Top 10 Speakers.
He serves on the Harvard Business Review Advisory Council and the Fast Company Executive Board. He has appeared as a 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, reinforcing his status as an authority in the field of safety excellence.
For more information, call +1.936.273.8700 or email info@ProActSafety.com.
