The Nerd Factor and Safety

In the National Football League (NFL), there’s a term bantered about by owners, management, coaches, and scouts - it’s “the nerd factor.”  In the NFL, it’s a positive term because it often translates into success.  Athletes who have “it” are dependable, smart, and strong.  I won’t mention names, but some of the best players in the league are labeled as nerds.

In safety, we need to tap into workers who are both followers and leaders.  Many can help us take safety performance to a new level.  And many of these workers have the nerd factor and simply need a little support, like everyone else - but they also have a distinct edge. 

Over the course of my career, I’ve worked with my share of great employees who embraced safety and their role.  A number of them had the nerd factor and were a joy to work with, especially when it came to safety.  These particular workers were insightful and bright.  They had a passion for safety and needed little support once their roles were defined.  Many were mentally strong and did not cave to negative peer pressure, especially when they dug into their work and got traction.  And most importantly, each of them was dependable.  They showed up, got the work done, they’d grind it out, and many kept you informed of barriers, progress, and the path forward. 

The term nerd should not have negative connotations when it comes to safety or improving organizational performance.  The term should largely be positive. 

All things being equal, I'll look for the nerd factor.  Some of your best performers have “it” so tap into it and use it. Nerds make our safety world better!

Are Your Safety Efforts Like Watching a Movie Trailer Or Casting the Plot?

I live near a special effects school.  Every time I pass, it reminds me of the dramatic movie trailers we often watch at theatres before we view the show we paid to see.  Trailers are full of great visuals and entice us to watch the entire movie.  

On the outside, and from a distance, many organizations are like movie trailers. They’re attractive, but full of warts and wrinkles and challenges on the inside.  This becomes especially true the longer we hang around.  As a safety professional, throughout my 32-year career, I've seen many organizations and their movie trailers, but also hung around to watch the plot unfold.  Oftentimes the plots were not nearly as exciting as the trailers.  I’ve also stayed to watch the introduction with various roles that were cast and the actions that followed.  In safety, we need to ensure that our leaders take on appropriate roles and are held responsible for the types of actions that will form the right culture for their supporting cast – so they can work as safely as possible. 

If we remain throughout the rising action of our own organizational plots, we have to weave our way through political and organizational barriers so we can align it with the vision we’ve placed out in front.  This is hard work and many are not willing to grind it out.  After the rising and climax, the resolutions of our organizational efforts should be made clearer.  It’s here where we have to deliver the right programs, processes, interventions, and systems that keep the organization moving forward, closer to the vision for excellence in safety.

The challenge I've seen in many organizations is that people fall in love with the trailer and special effects without digging deeper, to smooth out the warts, wrinkles, and barriers throughout the plot, specifically within the resolution phase.  Many individuals don’t want to re-cast roles so leaders champion the rise and resolution in favor of safety and... 

It takes a tremendous amount of effort to move beyond what we see in the glitz and glitter of our brands, vision, and values.  It takes discipline and a disciplined-grind to re-cast leadership roles and work, so the plot is carried out in a way that moves our needle in the right direction, to get the "safety numbers" we’d like to see.   

I’ve also learned that we can get the “right numbers” when we don’t fall in love with the trailer but embrace the process and the plot.  And embracing a proven process leads to a much more appealing cast, movie, and rating that even the harshest of critics might have difficulties arguing against.  

Safety Influence in Tight Windows

I was in Atlanta last week for a conference and was having breakfast off the lobby area.  The omelet man working nearby was doing what he does best.  At a glance, I saw that he started talking to a young woman who was getting breakfast to go.  The omelet man was obviously attracted and he quickly moved the conversation from small talk to asking for her number.  He wasted no time and his efforts made for some hilarious banter between the three of us.  Really funny stuff! Our parting comments revolved around the fact that you have to move quickly, through "tight windows" whenever the opportunity presents.  And so it is when we're presented with opportunities to influence the attitudes and actions of those around us. 

Never pass on opportunities to correct and redirect at-risk behaviors.  Always look for ways to reinforce and confirm safe actions.  Don't miss opportunities to collaborate and clarify why working safely is so important and relate your communications through stories and your company's values. 

We often miss opportunities of influence because we feel the window is too tight. There may be a fear of rejection or some form of deflection.  We may feel we're too busy or don't feel comfortable talking about safety on a particular occasion. 

Your people want to hear from you especially when you're genuine and helpful.  Don't look away - walk through every window of opportunity and coach your people up.