January 30 2023
By: Shawn M. Galloway
Almost an hour into an international flight, the airline turned around, likely upsetting all passengers aboard. According to a Virgin Atlantic spokesperson, a "rostering error" led to the airline not complying with its own training protocols requiring the captain to have a trainer status, a requirement that "exceeds industry standards." A UK Civil Aviation Authority spokesperson said, "Both pilots were suitably licensed and qualified to undertake the flight." To Virgin Atlantic, that wasn't good enough.
The return of the Virgin Atlantic flight from London Heathrow Airport to John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York, for a crew change likely cost the airline significantly. But this demonstrated to the airline's employees there would not be a compromise to the dedication to exceeding aviation safety standards.
Core values are decision qualifiers. If decisions are not congruent with your values, they are situational values at best. When your leadership demonstrates dedication to safety by lowering other priorities, how well-known is that throughout the company? How newsworthy does it become?
"It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you'll do things differently." - Warren Buffet
"Tell me what you pay attention to and I will tell you who you are." - José Ortega y Gasset
"Values aren't buses… They're not supposed to get you anywhere. They're supposed to define who you are." - Jennifer Cruise
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.
