It’s amazing what fans will do to show devotion to their teams. Let’s take football fans for example. They’ll dress up in goofy costumes, paint their faces and bodies, and then stand brazenly half-naked in freezing weather. They’ll even buy dirt from the “field” (i.e., Green Bay Packers’ fans). Whether you like the sport or not, you’ve got to admit it stirs up dedication in people that is strong and visible.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you could get employees to be just as dedicated to your safety program–or for that matter, any other program you are promoting? As a safety leader, you can have grand influence over whether or not people feel dedicated to a cause such as safety or quality. And though it’s not the same as inspiring people to be fans of a sports team, you do want to create fans. Here are a few tips:
Develop a Sense of Community — What separates your employees from everyone else? If you can show people there is something in which they can join and which makes them unique, they will “gel” and work diligently for that common cause.
Use Symbols and Themes– Marketing gurus know how powerful this tactic is. That’s why so many products have characters linked to them, even cartoon-like characters (i.e., Pillsbury Doughboy, Energizer Bunny, Jolly Green Giant). And every sports team has a mascot. When I coach safety teams/committees, I recommend they have a name for the team other than “The Maintenance Shop Safety Team.” I suggest they choose a name that symbolizes their goal or pick a unique mascot.
Flaunt Your Team’s Successes–I’ve had the privilege to work with dozens of companies in a wide variety of industries both as a speaker and a consultant. Those with the most impressive safety cultures (and along with that, the best safety records) are those where the employees show a sense of pride in their accomplishments. When visitors show up, they quickly find out about the employees’ successes because they’re displayed in all different ways and talked about at meetings and in casual conversations.
You Must Be The Biggest Fan–You’re not only a safety leader, but you must also be the most dedicated safety fan–the one who constantly cheers on your team and proclaims the the benefits of working safely. You’ve got to show your dedicated with our actions too.
Thomas Jefferson, a brilliant leader, wanted to promote his program against tyranny. Everywhere he went, he lived and spoke about “fighting against tyranny” and how it was “a service to God.” Though he was not perfect, like the rest of us, still, his life and the core of his existence consistently sent this noble message. He didn’t just show people the way; he was the way–a fine example for all leaders.
’till next time.
Richard Hawk
