Regardless of country, industry, or type of business, the most critical person to shape performance and culture is the first-line supervisor. Yet, these individuals are often the most undertrained, under-resourced and underutilized leaders in the organization. Far too many super employees become supervisors (and some eventually senior executives) without being developed into the type of leaders the organization requires to succeed.

After writing on topics ranging from strategy, culture, and employee engagement, best-selling author Shawn M. Galloway has turned his focus to safety leadership. Leveraging experiences in developing and coaching leaders across all major industries, Galloway presents his most humorous work yet. Coach tells a story that most leaders, as part of efforts to improve safety, will see themselves in.

Deep in the jungle, we find an independent troop of monkeys who perch atop the tallest trees on the tiniest of branches, picking rare and highly desired fruits and leaves that are carried down to the ground to be packed and sold to the other animals. When the business climate changes and independent groups are consolidated, the cultures clash, and the absurd efforts attempting to improve safety begins, resulting in a troop of distracted, disrupted, disengaged, disinterested and demotivated monkeys.

Knowing there must always be a better way, Lucy, a recently promoted supervisor, seeks out a mentor. She is led to Solophant the elephant and begins to learn and successfully apply the four areas to master to become a Coach: Familiarize, Focus, Feedback, and Facilitate.

After finishing this story, you will have a proven framework for coaching others to improve safety and all aspects of individual and organizational performance and, most importantly, develop the relationships critical for success in your business. Learn how to Create Ownership and Change Happens (COACH) TM.