As you sip on a Coca Cola, have you ever wondered where the can came from? Probably Ball Packaging – one of the largest aerosol packaging companies in the world. With total global sales in excess of $8.5 billion they know their business well.
Our host and guest speaker from Ball Packaging, Mr. Guillermo Spago, was the Manager for Safety and Sustainability for the company in Argentina.
He was a large man with an authoritative voice. He filled the room with his sheer presence. He spoke with pride and confidence about creating a safe work environment for his people and how he counted over 365 days without an incident– and then, just like that, a recent accident left a worker seriously injured.
Back to the drawing board, to look at his safety process from scratch.
He paused, looked into the distance, and then wondered aloud, “Why do people point fingers and blame each other when things go wrong? Why do people ‘hide’ their mistakes? How can I solve a problem when no one takes responsibility?”
I know people like that at my University and in my business – those that blame others for their own shortcomings, and those that consistently throw other people under the bus. Wouldn’t it just be easier to accept responsibility so that what is broken can be fixed? Time to step up to the plate, take responsibility and ownership of the consequences of our actions – or in-action, for that matter.
Time to have a few tough conversations with some of my people…
About Hemant Rustogi
Great visual and commentary in your blog.
I agree completely about people stepping up to the plate to admit they they… “gasp”… are human. Take responsibility, take corrective action, learn, and become a more well rounded honest person.
Most importantly….I think you should recall the sign that “fingers don’t grow back!”