March 14 2022
By: Shawn M. Galloway
Discussing recent field visits with overhead power line crews leaders, a new leader shared a concerning story. A storm quickly began moving in. Thunder presented, and lightning struck many miles away. Not knowing the policy exactly, she asked the employee why he was still up there in the bucket truck and when he thought it was appropriate to come down. His response was, "Oh, you just know."
It is easy for someone to become overly confident in estimating and forecasting using experience and judgment alone. Sometimes our overconfidence results in choosing the wrong option, answers on a test, jobs, stocks to purchase, candidates to support, or even the person to marry. It is tragic when it results in the loss of life. Overconfidence is an error trap. Talk through tasks and the hazards and risks people face in the actual performance of their work. Every company has error traps. Do you know where yours are?
"Before you attempt to beat the odds, be sure you could survive the odds beating you." — Larry Kersten
"There is no more insidious poison than hubris." — C.A.A. Savastano
Shawn M. Galloway is CEO of the global consultancy ProAct Safety. He is a trusted advisor, professional keynote speaker, and author of several bestselling books on safety strategy, culture, leadership, and behavior-based safety. He is a monthly columnist for several magazines and one of the most prolific contributors in the industry, having also authored over 700 podcasts, 200 articles, and 100 videos. Shawn has received awards and recognition for his significant contributions from the American Society of Safety Professionals, National Safety Council's Top 40 Rising Stars and Top Ten Speakers, EHS Today Magazine's 50 People Who Most Influenced EHS, ISHN Magazine's POWER 101 - Leaders of the EHS World and their newest list: 50 Leaders for Today and Tomorrow, Pro-Sapien's list of The Top 11 Health and Safety Influencers and is an Avetta Distinguished Fellow.
