Hello again and welcome to another issue of our e-newsletter. Summer has arrived in Minnesota and between traveling the country (and squeezing in a round or two of golf) I am back to share with you another of the 10 energy sources I utilize to help companies create a safe, healthy and productive workplace. In the previous issue I introduced you to the fourth of the 10 energy sources I address in my "Batteries Not Included" process: Accountability.

For a quick review... the 10 energy sources include:

1. Commitment
2. Communication
3. Consistency
4. Accountability
5. Flexibility
6. Creativity
7. Inclusion
8. Respect
9. Recognition
10. Fun

In this issue I will introduce the fifth of the 10 critical energy sources: Flexibility.

Why is flexibility so important? Because when we are flexible in our approach it means that we think something is important enough to see something through, even if it originally didn’t go as planned. Murphy’s Law dictates that there will be surprises. The true test is what we do with the surprises.

Stepping away from safety for a second, think about how most organizations handle surprises. Imagine that a large shipment of product was sent to a very important customer. The company receives a call from the irate customer stating that all the parts were defective. What is the company’s response to this crisis? Do they tell the customer that it is their tough luck, or do the opposite and immediately kick into overdrive to correct the situation? This initial response is what makes or breaks the relationship. What successful companies do is pull the troops together and determine the strategy to fix the problem. It is this approach that turns what may initially be perceived as a problem into an opportunity. It is this level of flexibility that often turns good customers into great ones. Many of us purchase specific brand name products in part because we’ve heard good things about the customer service that is provided or the type of warranty provided. We are making our choice based on the fact that we know things can go wrong, and we want to work with someone who will make every effort to correct the situation when it does.

Let’s bring this back to safety. Companies start new safety related programs all the time. They tell the employees how important they are and encourage everyone to participate. Within a fairly short period of time it becomes clear that many aren’t participating or those that are may be less than enthusiastic. This is not an unusual situation…and it does not automatically insure the death of the program. It is what the company decides to do next that will determine success or failure. Some companies simply watch what is happening, look at the employees and think “well, if the employees don’t want to participate it’s their problem”. Other companies look at the same situation and ask themselves what went wrong, what could be done better and what should be the next course of action to insure success.

When something is considered to be important, flexibility is built into the equation to insure success.

The best way to demonstrate flexibility is to have a plan B ready to be implemented “just in case”. When we buy a new car, we don’t question the value of the car simply because there is a warranty on it. We know “things happen” so we take out insurance policies or extended warranties. Demonstrating flexibility in their approach shows the employees that the company has an extended warranty in place to fix things if they don’t work out as originally planned.

It remains a busy time at Prevention Plus and I want to thank those organizations that have given me the opportunity to participate in their safety efforts: Captive Resources, UCLA, Wells Fargo, Anchorage Sand and Gravel, Minnesota Safety Council, Arkema, The Home Depot, Vetter Stone and CH2MHill. June was particularly busy with both the ASSE and Eastern Ergonomics Conferences where I had an opportunity to speak and work our booth.

Check out our newsletter special. Simply go to our website, pick out the products you like, and 20% will automatically be deducted from your total when you enter the word “Newsletter” in the special code box. All our products come with a 30 day free preview and we offer substantial discounts on multiple purchase orders. Give us a call at 952-525-2255 to find out more.

As always, keep your questions, comments and ideas coming. We’re always glad to hear from you. Be safe, have fun and keep in touch.