July 25 2022
By: Shawn M. Galloway
Think safety. Be Safe. Think before you act. A minute to think matters. What do those mean? While well-intended antecedents, these terms are either viewed as meaningless or, at best, have a different meaning for different people. They create more confusion than clarity. 
We want people to think through their actions before acting. Makes sense. We want them to think about the hazards and risks they will face. Makes sense. We want them to think through what controls or precautions are necessary to address the hazards and risks. Makes sense. Then, why not specifically ask these? Vague directions create misaligned behavioral expectations.
Specificity matters, both in directions as well as thinking before acting. What specifically do you want people to do - not get hurt? Or do you want them to think specifically about what it takes to make that a reality and overcome what they will encounter along the way? Specificity matters.
"There is no greater impediment to the advancement of knowledge than the ambiguity of words." - Thomas Reid
"I always wanted to be somebody, but now I realize I should have been more specific." - Lily Tomlin
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.
