November 22 2021
By: Shawn M. Galloway
We encountered a showstopping problem in a premium brand hotel in Detroit, leading a workshop with executives to develop their corporate safety strategy. We could not locate the remote for the projector. Furthermore, none of us were tall enough to manually turn on the device affixed to the ceiling. We called the staff for help.
The hotel events manager promptly responded and, hearing our issue, reached for a chair to stand on to turn on the device. We stopped her and asked if there was a step stool or ladder available? She said she would go find out. Minutes later, the hotel manager came to assist. Confirming the projector remote was unavailable, he also reached for a chair. Task stopped again, he told us he would get maintenance to help. After another short wait, a maintenance technician entered the room carrying a shower seat designed to assist their disabled guests. As we explained why this was unacceptable, a late-arriving and very tall executive from Germany walked into the room and solved our problem.
Coincidentally, one of the strategic priorities we were to discuss that day was the significant organic growth the company would experience over the next few years and the role of hiring and onboarding. Just because someone has previously worked at a billion-dollar company, even in a leadership position, we cannot assume they come with any knowledge of acceptable or unacceptable safety practices. If you aren't hiring to complement or evolve your safety culture and onboarding with oversight to ensure adherence with expectations, you are letting risk walk right in and taint your culture.
"Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed." - Alexander Pope
"Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in a while, or the light won't come in." - Isaac Asimov
Shawn Galloway, CEO of ProAct Safety, is an expert in safety excellence. With almost thirty years of experience, he is a highly sought-after advisor, keynote speaker, and expert witness. Shawn has become a trusted partner to leading organizations across various industries worldwide. He ranks in the top 1% of the most prolific writers in his field, having authored over 500 articles and several bestselling books. He also launched the world's first safety podcast, Safety Culture Excellence©. As a recognized authority in safety, Shawn has received awards such as being named among the Top 50 People Who Most Influence EHS and a Top 10 Speaker, among others.
He is a regular 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. Shawn also serves as a member of the Harvard Business Review Advisory Council, Forbes Business Council, and Fast Company Executive Board, enabling his influence to shape safety thinking and strategy at the executive level.
