July 01 2018
By: Terry L. Mathis
One reason safety does not continuously improve is the lack of curiosity among leaders and safety professionals. They are often so engrossed in everyday activities and reacting to emergencies that they do not adequately wonder how to get better. Curiosity is a necessary ingredient for progress. Without curiosity, new and better ways are seldom discovered.
Curiosity requires an interesting mix of three ingredients: self-awareness, humility, and confidence. The primary problem with self-awareness is that people don't know what they don't know. 
They can believe they are doing everything they should because they aren't aware of alternatives. Humility is necessary, but too much can stifle creativity. It is the same with confidence: too much and you think you are already successful, too little and you may be too timid to try. Be curious about how to improve safety and see where it leads you.
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.
