September 26 2022
By: Shawn M. Galloway
My wife and I were in Hawaii this year for Valentine's and her Birthday, which fall in the same week. After checking in to the hotel at our first stop in Honolulu, we wanted to explore the resort's amenities. As there were no apparent signs nor were we provided with a map when checking in, when asking a hotel staffer how to get to one of their offerings, he responded with, "Two doors get you there." I tried to inquire further twice, and he responded by repeating but with more sincerity. It took further probing to receive more precise step-by-step instructions, which appeared to frustrate him.
What is quite evident to someone with significant familiarity may not be to others. Imprecise and vague communication creates error traps that lead to the possibility of human error. One client, during briefings, asks members of the group, "Tell me what you heard me say." Another asks, "How do you see what I'm asking you to do?" Today, pay attention to all the imprecise and vague communication you witness. Communication traps are everywhere.
"Spiritual activity, education, civilization, culture, the idea are all vague, indefinite concepts, under the banner of which it is quite convenient to use words that have a still less clear meaning and therefore can easily be plugged into any theory." — Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace
"The most important thing in communication is to hear what isn't being said." — Peter Drucker
"To effectively communicate, we must realize that we are all different in the way we perceive the world and use this understanding as a guide to our communication with others." — Tony Robbins
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.
