December 12 2022
By: Shawn M. Galloway
According to the Department of Energy's Handbook on Human Performance, two of the top ten error traps are imprecise communication and vague/incorrect guidance. How concisely do you communicate?
My wife and I recently had a longer-than-anticipated layover at the spectacular Singapore Changi Airport. With a lot of time available to us, we went about exploring the terminals within. There were many restaurant options, luxury brand stores, a hotel, movie theater, butterfly exhibit, cactus garden and several other features. A sight to see, recommended by friends, is the Jewel Changi, a nature-themed entertainment and retail complex containing the world's tallest indoor waterfall, surrounded by a terraced forest setting.
After a quick shower in the Singapore Airlines lounge and a few more hours before our next flight, we set off to find the Jewel; no, this isn't a lead into an Indiana Jones sequel. We identified the first airport staff available. Two ladies were conversing, and we approached with our location request, "Which direction do we go to find the Jewel?" Her response? "It is past customs." My response was, "Oh, that is everything we needed. Thank you."
Four concise words and the most important information possible. She got right to the point. Her response was everything we needed to make a quick decision. We, unfortunately, did not have time for that. Perhaps next time.
"I have only made this letter longer because I have not had the time to make it shorter." — Blaise Pascal,
"Examine every word you put on paper. You'll find a surprising number that don't serve any purpose." — William Zinsser
"You've got to think about big things while you're doing small things, so that all the small things go in the right direction." — Alvin Toffler
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.
