Made Your 2007 New Year’s Resolutions Yet?
Consider
These First...
With the New Year approaching, here are 10 resolutions you may want to consider. Each will improve your organizational effectiveness—think about making just one a part of your personal “standard operating procedure.”
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1. Resolve to get the EHS acronyms out of your communications
Acronyms, another language unto themselves, can be confusing and lost in translation. Learn to speak (or present) in everyday language that your audience understands. If you continually use EHS-specific terms in your conversations, people may not understand what you’re talking about, they’ll get distracted (or worse, bored) and you’ll lose your effectiveness. It’s fine to explain several key EHS terms to people you work with outside your department, but don’t overload with acronyms or industry jargon.
2. Make a commitment to learning something about the Avian flu and Pandemic Planning
Bird Flu is the SARS of 2007 and if everybody isn’t already talking about it at your company, they soon will be. You may not think that a pandemic is possible, but people in New Orleans didn’t think the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina was possible either. Next, consider a rational, comprehensive preparedness and response – just in case. Make your first step a visit to www.eorm.com to listen to the archived version of our recent webcast, Asian Flu and Pandemics: Practical Guidance for Preparing Your Company, presented by Cliff Thomas, CBCP.
3. Resolve to understand how extended producer responsibilities impact your company
If you work for a company with a global business focus (and what company isn’t international these days?), resolve to learn more about how customer requirements and global product regulations are influencing your businesses operations. Understanding the principles of Product Stewardship, Green Business, and Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives currently underway within your organization will keep you in the know. You may also want to read Product Stewardship: Avoiding Six Key Pitfalls, a recent article in Priority Press.
4. Commit to having a list of “A” priorities to work on next year
Most businesses don’t place strategic value on firefighting. And on a personal level, it’s not very rewarding to keep battling those everyday blazes. If you are always in firefighting mode, your value in the organization could plummet. Be more proactive. Decide on a list of top priorities, review and update them constantly (at least quarterly) and let the people you work with know what they are. It will keep you more focused and less likely to get singed.
5. Plan to read your company’s Annual Report
Now that you have your “A list” of priorities, make sure you know what your company’s goals are, too. Frequently EHS professionals don’t know their organization’s big picture. If you don’t know the goals your company is aiming for, how can you align your department’s goals to match?
6. Work on your sales and negotiation skills
Whether you are selling your supervisor on a new idea, selling yourself for a new position, or just trying to persuade your children that your ideas aren’t outdated, sales and negotiation skills are used everyday. Find ways to actively learn these skills – and not from another EHS professional. (They may not be the best source.) Attend a class, read a sales book, check out a DVD at the library. If you are trying to influence people at your facility and don’t have the authority to make them respond, being able to “sell” the concept or negotiate alternatives can invaluable.
7. Resolve to get internal customer feedback
What do people think of the EHS function in your organization? If you don’t know, don’t guess. Even if you think you know, your assumptions could be skewed by your own bias. There’s a simple solution – ask them. Do an informal verbal survey or use an online survey tool for something more formal. In larger companies, the Human Resource department should be able to help gather feedback. And don’t get complacent; the longer you’ve been at your company, the more you settle in and make assumptions that may not be accurate. To help “brand” your EHS organization within the company, read Boosting EHS Value in Your Organization.
8. Read a business book or taking a business short course
Don’t just brush up by reading your chemistry book. Everybody else in business is reading the latest business book or taking one to two-day business professional development courses (on Marketing, Finance, etc.). Learn the current language, topics and business thinking so you have more to talk about than just those EHS acronyms we mentioned earlier.
9. Learn about Return on Investment (ROI)
Learn how to show that you (and the EHS function) are a value to your organization. Much of business language revolves around return-on-investment; so find out how your company looks at ROI. If you don’t know what Lean Manufacturing is and how it pertains to your situation, you’d better find out. Don’t know where to start? Do a Google search!
10. And finally…resolve to get out of the plant this year
You might want to attend one association meeting a quarter. Not just because
the topic is interesting and useful, but to meet other people. Trade ideas,
network, find out what’s working in other facilities and what’s
not. Also, listen to who is hiring and what they’re looking for.
It’s a great way to see if your skills are up to date.
As always, we’re interested in your EHS-related New Year’s
resolutions and especially how they will improve your day-to-day business
operations. Send us your best resolution and win an EORM polo shirt
from Land’s End. The top three resolutions, as judged by our
editorial staff, will win. Submissions can be sent to: prioritypress@eorm.com
Have a great year!
More Information:
- Contact an EORM consultant to learn how our services will benefit your company.
- View the current issue of Priority Press.
- View previous issues of Priority Press.
- Subscribe to Priority Press.
- Send us your comments or suggestions.