Fast Forward, Rewind, Then Play It Through
Shawn M. Galloway
CEO of ProAct Safety, Inc., Trusted Advisor, Best-Selling Author, Keynote Speaker & Expert Witness
Aside from consistently winning, what can a chess master do that an amateur cannot? Think ahead and recognize emerging patterns.
Finishing up a phone call while sitting in the parking lot of a home improvement store, I watched to my left as an older man loaded a new glass door into the bed of his truck. Unfortunately, he left the flatbed dolly next to the right rear tire. As he pulled away, it immediately punctured his tire. He pulled forward in front of me, and as my call ended, I offered to help.
His spare tire was located in the bed of his truck, under the new glass door, and a shattered one from his customer's house, which he had just come from. Earlier that day, while walking backward, a telescoping pool cleaning pole he was carrying smashed through their glass door, necessitating this visit to the store. As we put the spare tire on, it became apparent that it only had two-thirds of the necessary air pressure. Luckily, there was an auto parts store in the same parking lot. Today was not his day, but I'm sure it started with great intentions!
Part of leadership's responsibility is helping individuals think multiple moves ahead. For this concept, one of my clients, Kent, used to tell his people, "Fast forward, rewind, then play it through." If only this gentleman had worked for Kent, this mantra might have saved him time and money.
The skills that set a chess master apart from an amateur—thinking ahead and recognizing emerging patterns—are valuable not only in the game of chess but also in everyday life. The ability to anticipate consequences, plan strategies, and adapt to changing circumstances can help individuals navigate challenges more effectively and achieve better outcomes.
Just as a chess master plans several moves in advance to secure a victory, applying the same forward-thinking approach in real-life situations can lead to more successful and fulfilling experiences. It serves as a reminder that strategic thinking and pattern recognition are not limited to the chessboard but are powerful tools that can benefit us in various aspects of life.
"Unfortunately, becoming a good chess player doesn't ensure that you will be a safe worker; but more and more, the complexity of our safety challenges will force us to think differently to win the battle against unwanted workplace injuries." — Terry L. Mathis
"Good intentions are not the whole story. You must also pay attention." — George Hammond
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Some companies teach their supervisors to be safety coaches. Excellence-focused organizations enable this skill for all their people-leaders and influencers. Coaching is critical to organizational performance and the most effective way to inspire your team. Coaching aims to help leaders and employees perform at their best — every time, everywhere. Everyone can be a coach, from an executive to influential peers. Coaching is the leadership style focused on getting the best out of people. Contact us to discuss customizing a Leadership Safety Coaching Workshop for your organization and your people leaders.
Shawn M. Galloway is the CEO of the global consultancy ProAct Safety. With over twenty years of experience in safety systems, strategy, culture, leadership, and employee engagement, he is a trusted advisor, keynote speaker, and expert witness. He is the author of several bestselling books and has multiple regular columns in leading magazines, with over 400 articles and 100 videos to his credit. He also created the first safety podcast, Safety Culture Excellence, with over 800 episodes.
As a leading and globally recognized expert on safety excellence, he has helped hundreds of organizations within every primary industry achieve and sustain excellence in performance and culture. He has been interviewed and a guest on Fox News, EHS Network Radio, Safety and Health Magazine, EHS Today Magazine, ISHN Magazine, Safety Decisions Magazine, EHS Daily Advisor, Faces of EHS, Wild World of Safety Podcast, EHS Daily Advisor Podcast, Utility Safety Podcast, The Case for Safety Podcast, Occupational Safety Leadership Podcast, On the Safe Side Podcast, and many more.
Shawn's passion, dedication, and significant contributions to the safety field have been widely recognized. He has received numerous awards and accolades, including Global Safety Excellence Expert, Power 101 Leaders of the EHS World, Top 50 People Who Most Influenced EHS, Top 40 Rising Stars, and Top 11 Health and Safety Influencers. His influence is felt globally, and his status as an esteemed Avetta Distinguished Fellow and Advisor to Harvard Business Review, further underscores his expertise and makes his perspectives highly sought after.