New Beginnings

January 01 2017
By: Terry L. Mathis

New Year's resolutions are an interesting combination of wishful thinking and enthusiasm. Every organization I work with has a goal to be better in safety in the coming year than they were this year. Some of these goals were pulled out of the air and some were very thoughtfully planned. Some are based on making numbers look good and others are based in a deep caring for human beings and their quality of life. Everyone wants to win the war against accidental injuries but not everyone has a strategy for doing so.

New Beginnings

If you don't have specific targets for improvement, your goal may simply be wishful thinking. If you know the specific types of accidents you are going to eliminate in the coming year and have specific conditional and behavioral goals to make it happen, you have a chance to keep the initial enthusiasm going all year long. The goal is the cheer you give before running on the field, but the game plan is what helps you win in the fourth quarter. Keep that New Year's enthusiasm alive all year by helping everyone know their specific contribution to success, and don't rely on the goal alone to get you there.


Terry L. Mathis

Terry Mathis, Founder and retired CEO of ProAct Safety, has served as a consultant and advisor for top organizations the world over. A respected strategist and thought leader, Terry has authored five books, numerous articles, videos and blogs, and is known for his dynamic and engaging presentations. EHS Today has named him one of the '50 People Who Most Influenced EHS' four consecutive times. Business leaders and safety professionals seek Terry's practical insight and unique ability to introduce new perspectives that lead to real change.





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