June 02 2020
By: Shawn M. Galloway
Pre-COVID-19, few organizations were exceptional with the effectiveness of their first-line supervisors. Historically, most organizational change to affect safety performance has been either top-down or bottom-up, leaving the supervisors squeezed out. Yet, the most important individuals who shape operational performance in any category, as well as occupational culture, are the most undertrained, under-resourced, underutilized, and unaccountable individuals in many companies. In 2020, the challenge not only remains, but it is amplified and will be a contributing factor to operational issues of all kinds, including safety incidents.
As corporations are beginning to either start back up or return to normal operations, the forward-thinking are taking time to first align and resource their front-line leaders. Work design has changed in many areas. New information needs to be conveyed without relying on the standard communication channels or methods. As with any change, humans respond emotionally before logically. With the state of things currently, emotions are high and the distractions remain. How prepared are your leaders on the front line?
Before bringing back your crews to full-time operations, consider bringing back in your leaders of people, especially the first-line supervisors. Ensure they have the tools to set your workforce up for success and a safe return to work.
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.
