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 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.
