You Don't Need to Be Superman!

You don't have to be Superman to be a great safety leader.  But let's face it, some leaders bring out the best in people and others bring out the very worst.  We need to make choices every day regarding the kind of leader we are going to be, especially for those who are following. 

On our worst days, we bring about anxiety, fear, and a loss of focus.  Sometimes we are unapproachable, confrontational, and don't care to listen to the concerns of others.  At times, we can be detached and withdrawn.  Not the kind of leader others want to be around or follow.

At our best, we bring out more energy and excitement in our people.  We are approachable, and want to be engaged in the safety-related efforts of others.  We want to facilitate, coach, listen, and support the work of our people.  This is the kind of leader that attracts and influences others to be their very best and to reach new levels of safety engagement and performance. This is the type of leader who turns followers into the very kinds of leaders that we want to be - a reflection of our best qualities and characteristics.

Here's a couple of quotes from some organizational leaders who I have worked with recently.  I spoke about bringing out the best in others to improve safety performance.  Near the end, I follow with some questions that you may need to ask of yourselves and your leaders.  
 

David gave a presentation to the SILBA lumber owners, and employees that was terrific. David had their rapt attention, engaging them throughout the talk. It was definitely a heartfelt talk about each of them becoming active participants in their own company's safety process. It was directed at the owners/principals as we hoped it would be and asked them if they thought they could just take 20 minutes of their day to walk around, talk to staff, promote a positive, involved image of a caring manager/owner. This was about observing employees working and about providing positive feedback, educating them along the way. He has a very unassuming air about himself that seems to resonate with all he speaks to.

I find him a very likeable, thoughtful, engaging person and he probably has something to offer to any audience. He speaks to the little steps that an organization can take action on right now. I would definitely use David again!

Terry Buckhout, CSP
Regional AVP Risk Control Services
Meadowbrook TPA Associates

Just a quick note of thanks for the tremendous job you did at our four Leadership Conferences.  As background, Eagle Materials needed a motivational safety speaker for our Leadership Conferences.  David was an easy choice since he had spoken at one of Eagle’s Annual Safety conferences two years ago and as a result was widely accepted and recognized within our organization. 

Our Leadership Conferences were focused on enhancing the leadership skills of our first line supervisors and department heads with an emphasis on safety leadership.  David’s role was a half day segment of motivational speaking on leadership safety – specifically leading from the heart and caring about those you work with.  David’s material dovetailed perfectly with speakers before and after and energized the Leadership Conference participants.  Our participant evaluations told the story – our participants graded us out above the 97^th percentile in achieving the conference goals. 

David we will be calling on you in the future, as a key element in our leadership development program.  Again, thanks for your contribution to our Leadership Conferences.

Rodney E. Cummickel, Vice President – Risk Management
Eagle Materials

The very best organizations invest in their people to make them better safety leaders so they can bring out the best in others.    

What kinds of safety leadership opportunities are you helping to create for others?

Are you helping individuals to become better listeners?

Are you helping to develop the coaching skills of your workers?

Do you provide opportunities to learn various psychological strategies and tactics?


Well, I would love to hear from you and help you make your leaders better safety leaders. We don't need to be Superman, but we need to have the desire to be better safety leaders and we need the tools to make our cultures for safety the kinds of cultures we can be proud to talk about.