| Priority or Value…..Which One Describes Your Fleet Safety Program? |
3/6/07 |
So when you read the title, how many of you thought the word “value” was used in the context of value for your money?
Far too often I hear companies that are beginning, or redesigning their fleet safety program tout that “safe driving is a priority for our company and senior management.” Or, and I really love this one, “the safety of our drivers is priority number one.” If this sounds like your company, you may have a tougher time developing and sustaining your program than you think.
And by sustaining, I mean developing a culture. And by developing a culture I mean values, as in organizational values.
The problem with the word “PRIORITY” is that things that are priorities get adjusted as the business cycle changes and as new business initiatives rollout during the course of the year. Fleet safety then becomes a priority one minute and not the next.
You don’t want your fleet safety program designed as a priority. Priorities change, but values don’t.
You want your fleet safety program designed as a value. Not a monetary value, but a human value and a cultural value that is part of the fabric of your corporate identity. The monetary returns will follow when you describe it that way, design it that way and sustain it that way. Building a culture is not easy and it will take you much more work than simply rolling out a new training module or initiative. However, in the long run the work up front building a program based on values will save you a lot of time and resources, and maximize your results over the long-term.
So here is the question of the week. Is your fleet safety program a priority or a value?
|
< Return to Articles
|
|
