Safety Speakers Tip – Politically Correct

Safety Speakers Tip – Politically Correct or Effective?

For over 30 years as a safety speaker, I have been teaching the material in this week’s newsletter. I mention this because most truths about communication are timeless. With all the cultural and political tension we observe today it might seem this was written as a response to that tension. However, in fact, it is one more look into how to be the most effective safety motivational speaker possible. This is an area many safety speakers do not understand is important.

So how important is it to be politically correct? As a safety motivational speaker, I can tell you it is critical. I wish you didn’t have to be careful how you say something but throughout the ages it has always been important.

Why Is It Important?

It is all about effectiveness. If you want your safety message to be effective, you must be sure it doesn’t offend members of your audience.  When a safety speaker says or does something people find offensive, it changes the value of their message. No matter how valuable your content is, it will be valued less if you offend your audience.

This is because the messenger is a vital part of the message. To illustrate, let’s imagine the audience has a rating of you that equals 100. That is also the highest value of any message you could deliver. The more an audience likes and respects the speaker, the more effective their message. That is part of the purpose of a good safety speaker’s introduction. The person introducing the safety motivational speaker is telling the audience how relevant and what level of expertise the speaker brings to them.

Once they are introduced or when they begin it is up to them whether that opinion is reinforced or lowered. Content and perceived value of the information shared are important, but they can be easily undermined by an offensive statement.

If  safety speakers use a word or phrase which is offensive to someone in the audience that someone drops their opinion of the speaker immediately. Once this drops, the value of the message is weakened, also. That’s presuming they are still even listening at that point.

I used to think the only problem was the degradation of their opinion of the speaker and their message. I have since learned there is a bigger issue.

Internal Dialogue

When a safety speaker says the wrong thing, the offended audience member begins talking to themselves. “Why did they say that?” “Don’t they know that’s inappropriate?” “Why did the company allow them to speak?” “Should I complain to HR?”

Guess what? While they are having this internal dialogue they are not hearing the message you are giving. It is a double problem. First, they think less of the speaker and their message and second, they aren’t hearing much of the message at all.

It’s About Effectiveness

Once again, it isn’t about being politically correct; it’s about effectiveness. It also has been a real boost to my career as a safety speaker. Early in my career as a safety motivational speaker, I asked a client what was the main reason they had chosen me over the other safety speakers they looked at. They said, “Because I knew you wouldn’t get me fired.” I was surprised and pleased. It was great to know my reputation for being effective and appropriate was well known in the marketplace.

I would love to come to your location and give an effective life-changing message to your employees. You can count on the fact that my message and delivery will always be appropriate in your workplace and you will be proud you chose me to help your employees work safely. If you would like me to teach your safety team communication skills then call Diane Weiss and ask her about my full-day seminar, “Mastering Safety Communication”. For more information go to https://drebinger.com/safety-presentations-safety-motivational-speaker/mastering-safety-communication-full-day-course-with-safety-speaker-john-drebinger/ or CLICK HERE

Solutions For Your Safety Challenges
When you need solutions for your safety challenges give Diane Weiss a call at 209-745-9419 and bring safety motivational speaker John to your site to discover injury preventing solutions. You can email her at diane@drebinger.com
Until next week,
I’ll be, “Watching Out For Everyone’s Safety™”
Safety Speaker John Drebinger
© 2017 John Drebinger Presentations
Permission to use granted when credited and contact information included. www.drebinger.com +1 209.745.9419