I am often asked how does one put what I preach into practice, without using the ‘Moses approach’. Here are 5 SIMPLY SMART ideas, based on my 10 P™ Steps[1] for audits. Simple, smart, effective – but very tough to apply.
- I have a magic wand for you, but alas, it is not ‘cheap’. You have to invest your most precious resource: TIME[2]. You have to make time for safety. You have to make time to ‘look to see’ and to ‘listen to hear’. If you are not willing to make time, then rather do not walk onto the plant, shop floor or coal face. Your people can sense “I am in a hurry to get back to my seat in the office” from a mile away – and that will shoot you in the foot!
- Make it a HABIT[3] to become a true V I P, not only for SAFETY, but in general – WALK YOUR TALK. Share your safety DREAM. Establish a daily or weekly routine – once a month just doesn’t cut it! Manage on your feet and not on your seat! The magic lies in the HABIT and it is entirely within YOUR control!
- If you want to influence your people, YOU have to take ACTION[4]. Take baby steps, but take ACTION on something that can be done, fixed, resolved immediately. Use your position of power over the resources, every time you WALK YOUR TALK, so that people realise you are SERIOUS. Remember my Action Philosophy:

- Make sure you SEE and are SEEN doing SAFETY when you WALK YOUR TALK. Involve the people in the area you are visiting – the manager, supervisor / team leader, SHE Rep, down to the operator. Do the RED / GREEN card, especially the green card. Find the champions / pockets of excellence. Call the responsible person and give her / him a green card = recognition[5].
- Talk to people on your walkabout. Do not make assumptions and do not use the ‘Moses Approach’. ASK people what they are doing, how it is working for them and most importantly:

However, there is a catch here. Once you ask, you create an expectation that you are actually listening and, moreover, that you will do something about the issue. Declare your intentions with integrity!
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