April 04 2022
By: Shawn M. Galloway
Hired to coach and advise a new plant manager in developing a plant-specific safety excellence strategy, one of the priorities we chose focused on improving communication. Despite being a well-liked leader, the plant manager he replaced due to retirement was not the most effective communicator. I've long taught that with culture, whoever has the loudest and most influential voice shapes perceptions, and narratives will form in the absence of the correct information. Usually, it will not be the narrative you want.
As a result, the rumor mill was strong at the plant and often incorrect. One of the priority communication objectives was to "reduce the misinformation list." As we later developed a balanced scorecard to monitor the execution of the strategy and the efficacy of the choices made on their ability to yield sustainable improvement, in the engagement and perception category created, reducing the number of items on the misinformation list became a key leading indicator. While the rumor mill hasn't completely gone away two years later, it is significantly more accurate today.
The more timely, consistent, and personal our communication is, the more effective the communication, and the stronger and more trustworthy your company relationships will be. How are you monitoring the effectiveness and accuracy of communication within your culture? Within the different levels or groups, how long is your misinformation list?
"Misinformation destroys trust. When you destroy trust, you destroy the bonds that hold society together." - Laurence Overmire
"It isn't what we know that gives us trouble, it's what we know that ain't so." - Josh Billings
"It's okay to be honest about not knowing rather than spreading falsehood. While it is often said that honesty is the best policy, silence is the second best policy." - Criss Jami
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.
