May 19 2019
By: Terry L. Mathis
When organizations get new leadership, they often throw out old practices and instantly implement new ones. In safety, this can be disastrous. Even if leadership has been changed partly or wholly because of poor safety performance, there are likely things in place that work well. Discontinuing these can cause accidents and overload workers with new information and practices.
It is almost always wiser to improve through evolution rather than through revolution. Building on strengths can be more effective than correcting weaknesses, and both can be accomplished at once with intelligently designed change. Such evolution not only works better, but minimizes the perception of change in the minds of workers, avoiding overload and resistance. Intelligent leaders analyze existing programs and processes before rushing to total change.
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.
