Last week I presented at the Safety Conference jointly hosted by the Utah Mining and the Utah Manufacturing Associations. As the lunch hour speaker, my task was to promote safe practices in both the workplace and at home – and encourage each participant to Function with Gumption.
From my preparations and then the Safety Conference presentation, the idea of Safety Gumption emerged.
Marrying safety and the three principles of Gumption is a natural.
Here are my three principles of Safety Gumption;
1. Mindset – How You think
Safety Gumption involves a mindset that simply has safety as an overarching way of thinking. It means you consciously practice thinking to keep yourself and others out of harm’s way. It means safe practices and procedures that are an active part of your judgment. A mindset of Safety Gumption is proactive to the point that safety becomes part of your DNA. Safety Gumption is never considered an option – Safety Gumption is mandatory
I may not be a smart man … but I know what safety is.
2. Moxie – How you act … or how you get things done
When you act with moxie, you act with energy. Getting things done is the reason people hire you. Getting things done in a safe way without workplace accidents and lost man-hours takes moxie. Safety Gumption stresses productivity, but never at the expense of accident or injury. Companies with a zero-tolerance safety program can be just as productive and profitable as companies that routinely take shortcuts.
Safety is as safety does.
3. Graciousness – How You Interact with Others
It’s common sense and gracious behavior to keep your coworkers, family, and friends safe. Accidents in which you are injured also hurt others. Lost time at work burdens your coworkers. Caring for the injured takes time from friends and loved ones. Lost wages due to injury will directly impact (and hurt) your family. Safety Gumption raises awareness of how accidents harm others – either directly or indirectly. Safety graciousness not only protects you – it protects others.
Safety should not be like a box of chocolates – you always want to know what you’re gonna get.
Safety Gumption is nothing more than taking 100% personal responsibility for the safe way you think, the safe way you act, and the safe way you interact with others.
Is safety an active part of your mindset?
Are you getting things done with both safety and moxie?
Have you considered how an accident would hurt the ones you love?
Next Blog Title: Masterminds
Next Blog Date: April 23, 2012