Safety Moment - The Power of Light in Darkness: A Metaphor for Organizational Growth

WEBVTT 00:00:00.017 --> 00:00:03.577 So let's start with kind of an ancient metaphor. It's been around forever. 00:00:03.857 --> 00:00:08.757 In fact, it's such an ancient metaphor, I don't even know who to cite. 00:00:09.317 --> 00:00:13.897 Is it Egyptian?

I don't think so. Is it Greek? 00:00:14.197 --> 00:00:17.437 Maybe. Is it Roman?

I don't know. It's been around a long time, 00:00:17.457 --> 00:00:21.717 but I want to share it with you because I think it actually is an important 00:00:21.717 --> 00:00:24.917 way to sort of set the stage for the work you do. 00:00:24.917 --> 00:00:35.717 We'll be right back. 00:00:27.920 --> 00:00:37.360 Music.

00:00:37.537 --> 00:00:40.777 Hey, everybody. Todd Conklin, Pre-Accident Investigation Safety Moment. 00:00:40.917 --> 00:00:42.337 These are those tiny little moments. 00:00:42.517 --> 00:00:45.397 Let's jump into this metaphor because it's a really interesting one.

00:00:45.597 --> 00:00:46.957 So it's an ancient metaphor. 00:00:47.457 --> 00:00:55.417 And what it basically says is, no matter how dark it is, one single point of 00:00:55.417 --> 00:00:57.657 light will always be visible. 00:00:58.277 --> 00:01:04.437 So if you think about the sky, like the sky, and it's completely dark, it's as dark as can be. 00:01:04.657 --> 00:01:10.077 And yet you can see the light, the pinpoint light of a star, 00:01:10.197 --> 00:01:11.117 the first star of the evening.

00:01:11.577 --> 00:01:16.597 So no matter how dark it is, one single point of light is visible. 00:01:17.077 --> 00:01:21.137 The metaphor goes on. And this is kind of where it becomes sort of teachable. 00:01:21.217 --> 00:01:22.397 This is where it becomes a metaphor.

00:01:23.097 --> 00:01:31.297 When it's 100% light, one single point of dark is virtually impossible to see. 00:01:31.877 --> 00:01:36.417 And I want you to think about that as you think about the work we do. 00:01:37.377 --> 00:01:45.257 When it's really dark, anything you can do to bring improvement to your organization will be noticed. 00:01:46.077 --> 00:01:50.797 The transverse of that and where the metaphor makes its money is when things 00:01:50.797 --> 00:01:53.617 are really good, you have a high-performing team that likes each other, 00:01:53.777 --> 00:01:57.077 lots of trust, clear understanding of roles, responsibility, 00:01:57.317 --> 00:01:58.437 accountability, and authority.

00:01:58.977 --> 00:02:04.577 When you look at the organization that's functioning beautifully, 00:02:05.297 --> 00:02:09.897 one negative criticism hardly is noticeable. 00:02:10.457 --> 00:02:17.617 In fact, it's probably impossible to notice, or maybe I should say it's easy to ignore. 00:02:18.177 --> 00:02:23.677 When it's dark, a single point of light is incredibly visible. 00:02:24.037 --> 00:02:28.997 But when it's bright, a single point of darkness is hard to see.

00:02:29.497 --> 00:02:31.657 I think that's worth thinking about. 00:02:32.157 --> 00:02:38.117 That is a very interesting metaphor And it's certainly a good way to think about 00:02:38.117 --> 00:02:39.817 The work you do every single day, 00:02:40.317 --> 00:02:43.377 Learn something new every single day I bet you did today Have as much fun as 00:02:43.377 --> 00:02:46.937 you possibly can Be good to each other Be kind to each other Take care of each 00:02:46.937 --> 00:02:50.177 other And for goodness sakes, you guys Be safe Be safe. 00:02:50.480 --> 00:03:01.671 Music.