Bumper Cars

Proactive suggestions signal progress

Neil, Plumber Foreman for a full-service mechanical and plumbing contractor in Wilsonville, OR, told Session 10 of Turbo Leadership Systems' Leadership Development Lab (LDL):

"Every Monday at the Sam Barlow High School job site, we have our regularly scheduled safety meetings. I had noticed that after every meeting all 110 construction tradesmen had to walk through the school's parking lot to get over to our designated work area. I watched as we dodged school buses and student drivers. After seeing this happen week after week, I decided to mention my concerns to the general contractor's superintendent. I asked him if we could have our safety meeting at the designated work area to avoid the buses and student drivers.

"This past Monday morning I received a text message reading, 'Safety meeting will be held inside the designated work area.' I thought to myself, 'Good.' Coincidentally, this Monday happened to kick off National Safety Week to recognize safety and why it is important to be safe at work. The guest speaker thanked me in front of the group for bringing up the good idea of relocating our safety meetings to a more appropriate spot. I was a little embarrassed at the time, but I knew it was worth it. I would have felt horrible if someone trying to dodge buses and new drivers would have gotten hit.

"The lesson I learned from this experience is how important it is for me to stand up and speak out when I see improvements can be made. I learned how others can benefit when I exercise the courage to effectively speak out.

"The action I call you to take is to be alert, on the lookout for every performance and safety improvement idea you can find. When you stand up, speak out you count in your workplace and at home.

"The benefit you will gain is a long, upwardly mobile, injury-free career. You will have the purpose-filled feeling of knowing you count."

Don't miss this important part of Neil's story: look at the risk he took when he "stood up and spoke out." Most people justify their lack of initiative, "No one listens to me around here." It takes confidence and, in many if not most cases, courage to bring up an idea that seems to run counter to the natural flow of things You and your firm lose the innovative advantage unless everyone, especially those closest to the work, are encouraged to bring their ideas for safety and process improvements to the table.