Richard Hawk’s Blog

I own a tee-shirt with this saying on it: “Doesn’t expecting the unexpected make the unexpected the expected?” A silly thought for sure but it does hold a lesson. Over the years, I’ve had dozens of crazy surprises before, during and after a talk. Like what happened Saturday.

I was speaking for a piping company, Enbridge, in Morris, Il. It was an employee appreciation dinner/safety stand up. Chris, the fellow who was my contact and a pleasure to work with mentioned to me during one of our planning phone meetings that there would be some family members there too. I’m figuring a few wives/husbands.

Well, while hanging out and clowning around with folks as they arrived it soon became evident that there would be several children of all different ages in the audience. A bunch of kids in the audience? Yikes! Thankfully, I had my guitar with me and know several funny children songs. So instead of starting the talk with the adults, the children and I had a blast making noises and singing a song about a box I found on the beach.

You may not play and sing but you will do well to prepare yourself for the unexpected and be ready to improvise when you are going to give a presentation/talk. Actually, isn’t that helpful in all aspects of living—to expect the unexpected?

‘till next time,

Richard

PS: The picture above shows my niece Megan biting into what she thought was something sweet and got an unexpected lemon surprise.

www.makesafetyfun.com

Hello Again,  

One of my favorite magazines is National Geographic www.nationalgeographic.com. Not just because of the amazing photography, but because I get a bunch of ideas and insights that I can use to improve my business (talks, blog, products, articles, etc) and personal life. This month’s issue includes a listing of safety advances since the first U.S. automobile accident resulting in a pedestrian fatality to Volvo’s prediction it will have an “injury free” automobile by 2020. Now, that’s not the part of the magazine this month that gave me a cool idea. In fact, it didn’t do much for me at all. It was the article on orchids and how deceptive they can be in luring insects to spread their pollen that stirred my imagination. 

I gave a talk last week to a group of safety and health leaders at Imperial Oil.  I used the Orchids ability to manipulate insects as examples of ways we can encourage our employees to improve their safety and health behavior. Orchids are masters at getting insects (and other creatures with brains) to do what they want.  (Spread their pollen.) They do it by “knowing” what insects want and using that to their advantage. We can do the same. What do people want–attention, recognition, and a sense of purpose. 

I then explained how, we can increase our influence as safety leaders by tapping into these basic desires by listening better, displaying more unique appreciation and being a living example of an energetic and optimistic person.  This Orchid metaphor was captivating, unusual and fun. I thought of it only because I kept my mind open to new talk ideas while reading National Geographic. 

My tip for you: Don’t just read “Safety and Health” magazines to get ideas. Spread out. Read all kinds of stuff. Pick up a magazine you’ve never read before. Randomly check out web sites on topics starting with the letter P or go to a book store and go to a section you’ve never looked through before.  

Not only will you come up with interesting ideas for your meetings and who know what else, but you’ll also expand your mental horizon and have something to talk about besides recent OSHA regs. 

Let me know some of the ways you come up with imaginative ideas. I’d love to hear from you. 

’till next time. 

Richard 

www.makesafetyfun.com 

Hello Again Fellow Professional,

A few months ago I bought a Flip UltraHD Video Camera. It was under $200. It’s simple to use and I’ve been having a blast with it. The quality of the video is excellent. (There are other brands of video cameras that I’m sure are similar in price and ease of use. I just happen to buy a Flip Camera due to a friend’s recommendation www.theflip.com .)

Well, I thought of an easy, fun and inexpensive way for you to liven up your next safety and health meeting (or any meeting for that matter) using the camera. Walk around your site and interview employees. Then show the video at your meeting. (Loading the videos onto a computer is a breeze.) Put together a list of serious and humorous questions to ask your “stars.”  Of course you’ll have to get the interviewees buy in. But that shouldn’t be a problem. And the topics or types of questions are limitless–just use your imagination.

I spoke at a Clorox facility during their “Town Hall” meeting and I watched a hilarious video staring one of their Directors. He went around interviewing employees asking them how they felt about safety, etc. It was an in-house production but it was still awesome.

Also, when it comes to editing, there are all kinds of inexpensive (some are free) video editing software available that don’t take long at all to learn. In fact, the Flip camera comes with a simple editing program. You won’t have to do much, if any, editing though because the fact that it’s a home made video adds some charm. (Look at how popular You Tube has become.)

Let me know if you give this a try (or already have). I’d love to see the video.

‘till next time. Richard

Hello Again,

Here’s a picture of yours truly concluding my keynote talk at the Tennessee Safety & Health Congress in Nashville last month.

As you can see I’m rather shy on the stage. One thing I’ve learned over the years as a speaker and trainer is to give it your all. Don’t hold back. Sure on occasions I embarrass myself. But I figure the overall effect is much stronger when you let your audience see your emotions and energy.

Plus it’s fun!

‘till next time.

Richard

www.richardhawkinc.com

Is that how you feel? That you are not a creative person? I hear people make that proclamation sometimes during my Spice It Up! seminar when I ask the audience to come up with creative ways to connect themes or object that aren’t normally, if ever, connected. (i.e. using cockroaches to symbolize boring safety meetings or fishing as a metaphor during a blood borne pathogen class.) And most times the folks who tell me they are not creative don’t come up with any creative ideas.

One of the first, and most important steps to coming up with fresh ideas for your safety and health meetings (or any presentation you give) is to believe you can imagine and create. You can. We all can. I wrote earlier that “most times” the folks who tell me they are not creative don’t come up with any creative ideas. Not every time though. When I can convince someone that they can (and have many times in their life) come up with creative solutions and ideas they often surprise themselves and come up with an innovative safety theme. You don’t need to be a special type of person to be creative. You have to let your mind open up and don’t doubt your creative ability.

Practice helps of course. If you’re looking for ways to stir up your creative juices and get better at being innovative here’s a site I recommend:

http://www.creativethink.com/

It’s Roger von Oech’s home page. I also highly recommend his book A Whack On The Side of The Head. It’s fun to read and gives you practical exercises to stimulate your creativity.

I know for sure that even “safety professionals and engineer types” can be creative because I just published a book with 250 creative ideas all contributed by subscribers to my “Safety Stuff” e-zine. (250 Super Bright Safety Meeting and Promotion Ideas)

http://www.makesafetyfun.com/250-bright-ideas-p-12.html

In fact, every week I get new ideas sent to me from all types of industries and people with mostly technical or production-type jobs. So, start believing you ARE creative. That step alone will boost your imagination.

Then, come up with a cool idea and send it to me.

‘till next time.

Richard

www.makeyourmessageclear.com

Hello Again,

Two things I’ve learned through experience:  1) Smiles are a universal happy signal and 2) Every sane person wants to be liked.  These truths were amazingly evident to me last week when I was privileged to speak before over 100 leaders from ExxonMobil. There were people there from every continent and dozens of countries.  I had a wonderful time. Though I’m sure I didn’t pronounce every name accurately, I did feel  welcomed during my talk and had a blast during the night-before reception and dinner the night of my talk.  It was also encouraging to see a microcosmic example of how people from diverse cultures can work and play together.

Here’s what the experience helped me to know more deeply about people and how to connect with any audience—it’s all about

being . . .

real. Don’t try to act in a way that isn’t true to your nature.

interested in other people. By being interested in everyone I met last week I learned so much! I llearned about the food people eat in South America; what TV programs are popular in Japan; energy challenges around the world and what the night life is like in Singapore along with many positive personal stories.

upbeat and fun. There is no barrier between people when they are laughing together.  And if you are happy it is contagious.

helpful.  The best talks are the ones that help other people not just show how smart you are as a speaker or prove a point. Though you have to show you are credible, what every audience wants besides having a good time (fun!) is to discover something they can use to evolve as a person.

passionate.  It’s got to matter to you first before you can stir other peoples’ desire to join you in whatever it is you’re suggesting. You’ve got to care on and off the stage.

How about you? What have you found to be important to every audience (person) you share time with.

‘till next time.

Richard

Director—Richard Hawk Inc.

www.richardhawkinc.com

PS: Here’s a link to a song-video entitled “People Want The Same Everywhere” which I enjoyed thoroughly. http://truelovetoo.blogspot.com/2009/05/people-want-same-everywhere.html