Evolving Best to Better Practices
Shawn M. Galloway
CEO of ProAct Safety, Inc., Trusted Advisor, Best-Selling Author, Keynote Speaker & Expert Witness
Welcome to the Maturing Safety Thinking newsletter and thank you for signing up. This week, let's consider the difference in best and better practices.
A critical shared mindset to foster continuous improvement is the realization there will always be a better way to do something. Improvement will always be possible, but all progress begins with thinking differently. Since the mid-2000s, several clients began discontinuing using the phrase “best practices” and instead adopted the term “better practices”. Their concern was, "If we adopt a best practice, we might stop looking for a better way, and there will always be a better way if we keep searching."
Best to Better Practices
Now numerous clients routinely conduct external and internal benchmarking trips called "Better Practice Assessments" to seek out better, but perhaps not yet so common approaches in the company or industry. When Cintas first became a client, I learned of their corporate values. One, in particular, was Positive Discontent, which they define as "We're never satisfied with the status quo, or content to leave things as they are. We're always seeking improvements to our processes, systems, products, and services."
Language has shaped our culture since the first humans banded into tribes—terminology matters. What language in your organization is stifling the maturing of thinking necessary for continued improvement? How old are your best practices still in use today?
Cultivating a Culture of Inquiry
To truly embrace continuous improvement, organizations must cultivate a culture of inquiry. Encouraging employees at all levels to ask questions, challenge existing processes, and propose innovations is vital. By fostering open communication and giving team members the freedom to experiment, organizations can unlock hidden talents and insights that may lead to transformative changes.
Training sessions, workshops, and collaborative meetings can become forums where ideas flow freely, promoting a collective mindset of exploration. Adopting a “learn it, do it, teach it” approach can further empower individuals to take ownership of their continuous improvement journeys, ensuring that the quest for better practices is a shared responsibility.
Redefining Metrics of Success
Another important aspect in this evolution from best to better practices is redefining success metrics. Traditional performance indicators often focus on fixed targets that may inadvertently promote a culture of complacency. Emphasizing dynamic indicators that not only measure outcomes but also track value in such forms as innovation, adaptability, and learning can spur teams to continuously find better methods.
Celebrating incremental improvements, no matter how small, reinforces the idea that every effort contributes to the overarching goal of enhanced performance. Recognizing the courage it takes to challenge established norms not only increases individual motivation but also builds resilience within the organization.
The Future: Embracing a Better Tomorrow
Ultimately, transitioning from best to better practices is about embracing a mindset of perpetual evolution. As industries face rapid changes due to technology, customer expectations, and global dynamics, the ability to adapt and innovate becomes imperative. Organizations that remain committed to searching for better ways not only thrive but can also become leaders in their fields.
As we continue to redefine our pathways to success and reshape our organizational languages, never forget the quest for improvement is not a destination but a continuous journey. In this journey, every voice counts, and every idea has the potential to pave the way for a brighter, more efficient future. How is your organization preparing to join this movement toward better practices? Obsolesce is everywhere if you know how to look for it.
"The greatest danger in times of turbulence is not the turbulence; it is to act with yesterday’s logic." – Peter Drucker
"Best practices always sounded to me like once you did them, there was no more room for improvement." – John Caltagirone
"The rate at which organizations and individuals learn may well become the only sustainable competitive advantage." – Ray Stata
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18 March Jacksonville FL/ Keynote: The Bridge to Excellence
27 March 10-11 am CST Virtual Discussion / 60 Minutes on Safety Excellence
01 April Nashville, TN / Keynote: The Bridge to Safety Excellence
02 April Virtual/ Panelist: DOE EFCOG Safety Culture Spring Conference
10 April Houston, TX / ASSP and AIHA Gulf Coast PDC Keynote: Ten New Trends That Keep Me Up At Night
14-15 April Albuquerque, NM / Lean BBS Workshop and Leadership Safety Coaching Workshop
24 April Charlotte, NC / NSC Spring Conference: Roundtable Discussion and Shared Ownership — Engaging Subcultures for Safety Excellence
30 April Athens, GR / Safety Excellence International Advisory Panel
Shawn M. Galloway serves as the CEO of ProAct Safety, a premier global consultancy specializing in safety systems, strategy, culture, leadership, and employee engagement. With more than two decades of authoritative experience in the field, Shawn is a sought-after advisor, keynote speaker, and expert witness. He is also an accomplished author, having penned several bestselling books and contributed over 400 articles and 100 videos across leading industry publications. Notably, he pioneered the first safety podcast, "Safety Culture Excellence," which boasts over 800 episodes.
As a distinguished expert and influential figure in safety excellence, Shawn has guided hundreds of organizations across various industries in achieving and maintaining the highest standards of performance and organizational culture.
Shawn's influence and dedication to advancing the safety profession have been duly recognized through numerous prestigious accolades, including distinctions as a Global Safety Excellence Expert, Power 101 Leaders of the EHS World, Top 50 People Who Most Influenced EHS, Top 40 Rising Stars, Top 11 Health and Safety Influencers, and Top 10 Speakers. He serves as an advisor to the Harvard Business Review and holds the esteemed title of Avetta Distinguished Fellow.
His insights have been featured on prominent media outlets such as Bloomberg, Fox News, DailyMail, Dubai One, U.S. News & World Report, Sirius Business Radio, Wharton Business Daily, and the leading safety-related mainstream magazines and podcasts, solidifying his status as a leading voice in the safety domain.