Extreme Ownership & The Laws of Combat: A New Approach to Construction Safety

ABC Western Michigan's recent Leadership Development Program with Echelon Front brought a whole new perspective into how we lead every day.

Echelon Front takes the leadership lessons learned on the battlefield to leaders everywhere, at every level, in every capacity. Every single person who interacts with another human being is a leader—no matter your title, your rank, or your position.

ABC’s goal is to be a recognized leader in health and safety in the industry. Extreme Ownership in construction safety is a mindset that breeds a culture of responsibility and ownership, acting as a catalyst for success.

So, how do contractors take these principles and implement them in their own organizations to drive a strong culture?

Continue reading to learn how YOU can utilize these principles.

Implementing Extreme Ownership in Construction Safety: LAWS OF COMBAT

1.?????? Cover & Move

At its core, cover and move is teamwork. Every team member must work together and support each other for the sole purpose of mission accomplishment. On a job site, the mission is to ensure that every person on that site makes it home safe and unharmed. This means looking out for each other’s safety and helping colleagues and other tradespeople on the site. By fostering a culture of ‘cover and move’, leaders can ensure that safety becomes a collective responsibility and not one the safety professional shoulders alone. If the team fails, everyone fails.

2.?????? Simple. Clear. Concise.

Put simply, if the team doesn’t understand, they can’t execute. Everyone on the team must know and understand their role in the mission or in this case, creating and maintaining a safe working environment. How can you determine this? Ask them! The term used in the military is ‘readback’. Have your employees explain to you what you just briefed them on. This not only ensures whether or not they were paying attention but also provides a test for the individual delivering the information. Did they communicate clearly? Did they share the ‘why’ and the ‘how’ in a way that can be understood and is directly tied to the mission's success?

3.?????? Prioritize and Execute

Safety leaders need to observe and analyze the situation, identify the highest priority, and then focus the efforts of the team and the available resources to execute that priority before moving on to the next.

4.?????? Decentralized Command

Decentralized command is all about empowering team members to take charge of their own tasks. Regarding safety, this could involve giving workers the authority to stop work if they spot a hazard or allowing them to suggest improvements to safety protocols. This way, everyone on the site has a stake in maintaining safety.

By embracing Extreme Ownership, construction leaders can cultivate a culture where safety is everyone’s responsibility. It’s not just about ticking boxes or following rules; it's about creating an environment where every worker feels valued and protected. After all, a safe construction site is a productive one.

It’s time to take ownership and make the industry safer for everyone!

Want to dive deeper into the principles of Extreme Ownership? Check out the Extreme Ownership Academy – a free resource that offers lessons learned on the battlefield that can be applied to every aspect of your life.

Interested in joining ABC’s Safety Peer Group? Reach out to Katie Brown, at [email protected]. This group addresses the key safety issues facing the Western Michigan construction community.