I don’t know if this story is true, but it’s been repeated often enough that it must be fact. A Wharton MBA professor’s final exam had one question. “What’s the name of our custodian?” I love that story. People are important. Relationships matter. You need to know and respect all the folks that are contributing to success.
Similarly, Ted Lasso follows that model. From the “kit man” to a waiter that being ridiculed, Ted takes the time to show them respect. He also makes the effort to get to know the folks that surround him and the team.
One of the best safety professionals I know, Brian Betti, was doing an assignment at a large capital project. It required him to stay at a 2,000 person ‘worker camp.’ Brian knew everyone there. I mean everyone. The security guards. The kitchen staff. The custodians. When I say ‘knew,’ he really knew them. Their names, their hometown, their family, even their pets. He invested time with them and had meaningful conversations with them. No ego. Just genuine caring.
Did that help him with his ‘job?’ Of course. He understood what was happening at that site. People shared ideas and observations with him. More importantly, Brian became someone people trusted. That trust enabled him to have the right conversations to improve safety and health.
One day, Brian received a call. The caller, a person from the site, wanted to take his life. He trusted Brian and reached out to him. Brian was there to help. A life was saved. Relationship matters.
As safety professionals, we are here to save lives, enhance health and reduce operational risks. We never know when we may have saved a life, avoided an accident, or eliminated a risk that could have caused an injury. To bring this concept home, SafeStart CEO Barb Tait has an exercise where the team creates a character. Individuals then ‘tell the story’ of how that character avoided an accident because of the team’s work. I love this! It brings home the importance of our work and tells a powerful story.
What will be your story?
Some lessons for safety professionals:
- Relationships matter.
- Go out of the way to build relationships, no matter the perceived value of the role.
- Treat everyone with respect.
- Your relationships will help to keep people safe.
- You never know when or how you will impact someone’s life.
- Keep your ego in check, it doesn’t matter.
If you are interested in developing your safety team, consider running the Safety Professional’s Academy. Contact me to have a conversation.
If you have safety professionals who require coaching, please give me a call!
SafetyAnd Consulting Associates, Inc.
National Safety Council
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