“What do Executives Want, Need and Look for in

Professional Safety Support?”

Thomas Butts, P.E.Vice President Operations

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Safety Moment

• How prepared are you / love ones who drive to deal with being visible if they have to evacuate the vehicle on a busy highway / road? =

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1) Ability to Communicate• At all levels

• Don’t assume executives understand safety

• Understand how to connect safety with the bottom line

• Manage expectations

• Share the message throughout the organization

• Be the eyes and ears of senior management

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2) Positive Attitude • Avoid negativity and over reactive behavior

even during adversity

• Think positive and smile when attacking challenges

• Maintain a “this too shall pass” mentality

• Best learning comes from difficult challenges

• Laugh often and interject appropriate humor

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3) Stay close to the Action

• Understand the details

• Stay informed

• Build relationships with those closest to the sharp end of the stick

• Analyze the data and look for trends

• Avoid managing by email

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4) Candor

• Promote an environment of complete safety candor

• Able to have the difficult conversations with executives

• Never soft-shoe around difficult issues

• Point out those who refuse to comply

• Understand the rules and hold people accountable

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5) Tenacity • Never give up mentality

• Understand and accept that repetition is good

• Adapt, persevere and overcome

• Be flexible, and do what it takes

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6) Passionate and Humility• Put your heart into your work

• Understand that once relationships are destroyed, they are difficult to rebuild

• Be able to provide and accept constructive feedback

• Ability to consider the “perspective” of others

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7) Courageous

• Have the guts to stop the work

• Ability to confront a senior manager who does not get it

• A willingness to elevate issues to the next level of management to achieve the desired result

• Don’t be afraid to ask for help

It is More Challenging for Work Family Members to Influence of Whom They Do Not Have Authority

“Stop Work Authority”

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8) Champion

• Celebrate the small and large successes

• Recognize those who contribute

• Be a relentless safety promoter, a little evangelical

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9) Visionary

• Keep things in perspective

• Have a clear vision and be able to articulate it

• Understand instant results do not equal systemic improvements

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10) Strong work / personal life balance

• Take time for yourself

• Practice a healthy lifestyle

• Spend time with those you care for the most

• Practice what you preach

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Thank You