October 04 2021
By: Shawn M. Galloway
Vision creates clarity on where the organization is going and defines success. Success is more than great results. Suppose you experience excellent safety performance but cannot explain why. You shouldn't feel confident in sustainability. This vision should be measurable, so you will know if we are making progress towards it and if the results are accurate or not. The results will not last if you have great results but not desirable beliefs, observable behaviors, or knowledge levels. The vision must include what people will know, believe, and do, which explains why you are excellent in safety. All of those are measurable.
Values are beliefs that motivate actions. Moreover, values are created when beliefs are reinforced at or near the point of decision. If you haven't been clear on what beliefs you want, don't expect others to make the right decisions consistently, especially when no one is looking. Safety must become a core, not situational, value nor one delegated to others. For this to happen, you must be clear on what beliefs and behaviors would make it so, and work tirelessly to remove the barriers to becoming common. Saying safety is a value is pointless unless behaviors are consistently observed that create or reinforce this belief. How clear are your safety vision and your safety values? How clear is it to others?
"We see in order to move; we move in order to see." — William Gibson
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.
