Google the word Culture. You will see over 9 billion hits.There are a lot of people searching for information on culture. I define culture as the way you think, act, and interact. Culture is the atmosphere created, an invisible force that shapes our behavior. Every company has a culture and every company is unique.Your culture is formed in one of two ways – intentionally or unintentionally. We have all heard the term, unintended consequences. This is what happens to companies when they do not intentionally shape their culture.

It is a very common and even accepted belief that accountability starts at the top. Meaning senior management should dictate what employees should be accountable for throughout the organization and the consequences of not doing so. Many, many safety professional have told me over the years and identify their #1 issue as, top management not holding people accountable.

I have had the advantage of seeing under the hood of 1,000+ companies that have implemented a top-down approach.Time and time again, this approach has proven to have very limited results, and typically for a very short period.Are you spending time in meetings thinking or discussing mistakes, what went wrong, and often thinking or saying if people were just accountable this would have never happened?

There are many reasons for this. But just think for a moment, do you change your habits based upon someone else telling you what to do? The honest answer is rarely or never and certainly not in a sustainable way. So, do your employees possibly feel like they are being told what to do or how to do it?

The right way and an innovative way to foster a Culture of Accountability is from the Bottom, Up. That’s right, the opposite of what almost every company has been trying to do, with very limited results for years.

You probably realize if you are going to go where you have never been before, it is advisable to hire a guide for your journey. Someone who has experience, knows the pitfalls, speed bumps, and additional challenges you will encounter. That’s RMA and we have a proven process that will accelerate your success and build it in a way that it is self sustaining.

Our proven process SHIELD™ – Safety – Health – Innovation – Engagement – Leadership – Development. We will continue to reveal the key ingredients of our proven process. These ingredients have transformed safety from a compliance requirement into a shared responsibility that resonates throughout your organization.

At the beginning of your journey, your RMA guide will help you select the employees in your organization to immediately engage and begin building your Culture of Accountability. We make accountability simple for everyone to understand with these 3 elements:

Define: Make it crystal clear what is most vital and expected.
Measure: Regularly and consistently.
Reward: Recognize when expectations are exceeded, met, or come up short.

Every organization is unique, and your uniqueness must be considered by your RMA guide and your Design Team. However, every organization has one thing in common, they all have people. At the root, your design team will define specifically what we want and expect people to do in your culture. Remember, culture is the way you think, act, and interact. Your team will educate and encourage the good habits we desire, focused on what is most vital. Not the entire 200+ safety manual sitting in the office. Think about the work assignments and tasks where hazards can exist that may result in life-altering events.

“What gets measured gets done” is a well-known saying that means regular measurement and reporting can help people focus and make decisions to improve results. It’s often attributed to management guru Peter Drucker, who said “What gets measured gets managed”. Measuring will help people to gain motivation and hold themselves accountable.

The best way to change a habit is to have a desire to do so. At our core, we must want to change a habit. We gain this desire first through understanding what we need to do to gain a better outcome. We also must believe that this new way will help us WIN! Everyone wants to WIN! When your people meet or exceed expectations (WIN), they will receive positive feedback and recognition from their leaders and teammates. We will teach you how to celebrate the vital activities daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annually; and not celebrate your accident rate or other lagging measures which are many times driven by luck. The people in your culture will demonstrate daily a high level of care for each other. This will gone well beyond safety in your organization and lead to a world-class culture.

Accept that top down doesn’t work
Have a strong desire to engage and improve
Schedule a call with an RMA guide to see how SHEILD™ will work for you

Next Week, We Will Explore: The ABC’s of why we act the way we do.

Have you ever wondered why people who have been properly trained in your “Safety Program” keep taking risks, violating rules, and not following your safety requirements? Once you know the ABC’s, you will know why this is happening and what you can do about it. You will:

1. Discover the ABC’s
2. Learn why people do what they do
3. Explore how you can influence people to immediately perform in alignment with you safety expectations.

Make it a great day!

In 1995, my wife and I packed up and moved west in pursuit of opportunity and the dream of building a future for our family. Today, 29 years later, our twins—our greatest pride—are beginning their own journeys at rival colleges in Arizona. They are my “Why,” the driving force behind everything I do, including my passion for workplace safety and accountability.

Over the past 30 years, I’ve worked across multiple industries as a Certified Safety Professional (CSP), leading efforts to create safer, more accountable work environments. From commercial insurance companies to some of the largest construction firms in the country, I’ve seen how accountability—or the lack of it—can make or break an organization. In 2012, my partners and I founded a safety consulting firm, built from scratch, with a shared mission to improve workplace safety.

Through it all, one thing has remained clear: a culture of accountability is the bedrock of highly successful businesses. But it’s not just about policies and procedures—it’s about engaging and empowering people to take ownership of their work and safety. It’s about showing that you genuinely care about your people. In this blog series, I’ll explore how leaders can foster this culture and, in turn, create engaged, safer, and more resilient organizations.

Get access to in-depth insights, expert tips, and the latest trends in workplace safety directly to your inbox.