Why Are We So Often Helicopter Safety Professionals?

I know that’s a bizarre title for an article, but hear me out. 

Helicopter parents might have the interests of their kids at heart. But they also accidentally stifle their kid’s creativity and decision-making. With a helicopter parent constantly “hovering overhead,” their child can never really develop independently. 

I hope I never turn out to be one (I’m expecting, by the way!).

I dread the possibility of becoming a helicopter parent because—confession time—I was once a helicopter safety professional. Yep, it’s time to come clean. Years ago, I was one of those somewhat irritating safety professionals who “hovered” nearby my colleagues, regularly checking out what they were doing and how they were doing it, and giving unsolicited recommendations. Back then, my colleagues may have appreciated my approach. Yet it’s also possible that some of them wished I had trusted them more, and asked for their input before I gave them advice. 

These days, I’m all about creating a safety culture, treating workers with the utmost respect, and letting people personally participate in the overall safety of a company. But it took me a while to get like this. When I look back on who I was and who I’ve become, I see that real change is possible. It’s that kind of change that I hope to inspire in others who are on their “safety journeys,” if you will. 

By the way, I owe Bec Corvin some credit for this article. She focuses on safety and leadership development at ProTect-All Solutions, which has offices in Houston and Pittsburgh. 

Bec was recently a guest on my podcast. At one point she talked about the importance of reducing stress and anxiety—both hers and her coworkers—on the job. She then talked about how some of her clients might think of her as being like a “helicopter safety person.” And every time she visits the job site, her presence adds to the stress and anxiety the workers are feeling. It’s as if Bec can hear them thinking: Crap, what’s Bec going to look at today? 

The essential thing is, Bec said, is for her to invest quality time with those workers so that they end up trusting her. That way, they eventually change their mind about her. For instance, instead of dreading her visits, they’ll phone and say, Hey Bec, can you come over and help me with something? Can I walk you through something before I do it, just in case I make a mistake? 

That’s a win—not just for Bec, but for everyone on that worksite. 

Check out my full conversation with Bec Corvin: https://youtu.be/C8r1jTUyBWA