© 2001 Topves
Risk Management, Safety Management and Loss Control
Topves
4.1.1.01. Process - Senior Manager Leadership
Improvement - positive change - can best result from top-management leadership. In fact the greatest guarantee for success lays with the senior manager him - or herself, through his/her personal leadership, commitment and actions. The top person (and his/her management team - see step 2 and 3 of the process) needs to be motivated from within him-/herself (but sometimes this needs to be helped a bit) simply because this person has the responsibility to lead to organization to continued success.
Purpose of this step is to make sure that the individual leadership, commitment and support is given by the senior executive of the unit being considered. (The "unit" here would most likely be a site or location but could be an entire corporation or division.)
Leadership needs to be demonstrated by action, word and by example. Several ways by which the top person can demonstrate his/her leadership include:
 | Signing the policy statement indicating reasons why, objectives, responsibilities, resources etc. Before signing the policy statement, it could be a very good idea to get the agreement from both the management team and the employee representation (also assuming that both groups will be part of the PIT) |
| Chairing the Project Improvement Team (PIT) (see step 3) to indicate his/her personal commitment to other leaders in the organization |
| By making sure that the project process (step 5)gets his/her approval and that it is properly communicated to all personnel. This process is very similar to the 16/step process described through this website but it needs to be as specific as possible with names and dates. This communication obviously can only go into the organization after all relevant parteis (management and employee representatives, part of the PIT) have agreed to carry it out. |
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signatures on system elements developed (step 12) |
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periodic related site tours made by CEO |
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prepares related site tours |
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knows and applies behavior observation techniques |
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personal compliance to relevant rules |
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periodic related communications issued to (all) employees |
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promotes externally in related activities, meetings, seminars |
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addresses related issues during important internal meetings |
| opens all important related workshops and training sessions (steps 2, 9 and 11 |
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attends management briefings (step 14) |
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recognizes outstanding performance of individuals or groups |
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makes necessary resources available to carry out activities |
NB. "related" as used here means relevant to the improvement subject i.e. Quality, Safety, Environment or any combination
See also RATING.
Go back to PROCESS
THE principle of RESISTANCE TO CHANGE
"The greater the departure of any planned change from the accepted ways of the past, the greater the potential resistance by the people involved.