| p>Frequently, I get called into organizations to | | | | Require that any potential recruit for your group, |
| provide environmental, health and safety | | | | prepare and deliver a presentation as part of the |
| management support. The reasons for this support | | | | interview process. If it's not great - don't hire them. |
| are varied, but often it is due to a sudden departure | | | | 3. Create amazing and original music. Don't think that |
| of existing management wishing to pursue other | | | | you have to follow the crowd and run your programs |
| opportunities. After a brief evaluation period, | | | | just like everyone else - be creative and original. Don't |
| frequently I discover individuals within the existing | | | | be afraid to try different approaches to solve |
| environmental, health and safety department that are | | | | problems. If you think about it, in the past 30 years |
| educated and talented, but simply haven't been | | | | most of the approaches to EH&S have been quite |
| provided with the opportunity to be challenged or | | | | boring - review regulations, write programs, conduct |
| grow within their department. In other cases, I find | | | | training, and conduct audits. Try new and creative |
| individuals that just don't realize the level of | | | | approaches that will add value to your organization. |
| commitment that it takes to get to them to the | | | | 4. Work on your stage presence. Rock stars typically |
| next level that gains them "Rock Star" status. For | | | | have a great stage presence. If you don't believe |
| those wishing to gain Rock Star status, here are a | | | | that you're a great public speaker then get help. To |
| few tips: | | | | achieve rock star status you can lack skills in any |
| | | | other area but this one. You have to be a great |
| 1. Become the best at what you do. If you're going | | | | communicator and have the ability to effectively |
| to achieve rock star status in the environmental, | | | | communicate to all levels of employees. You need to |
| health and safety field you need to be not just good, | | | | be comfortable at speaking in front of any size |
| but great at what you do. This is going to require a | | | | crowd. Practice your skills, observe the great |
| lot of hard work and hours. These hours are likely | | | | speakers with different styles. Steve Jobs of Apple |
| going to come at the cost of your personal and | | | | Computer has a different style than Tom Peters If |
| family free time. Rock stars spend a lot of time | | | | you're the type of person that still reads from the |
| practicing on their own time, so start acquiring skills | | | | slides, you really need to work on your presentation |
| that you don't have. Become the expert in one | | | | skills. Don't be a boring stiff. |
| specific area, but also expand your knowledge into | | | | 5. Get some bodyguards. Anytime that you are going |
| areas such as potent compound safety, sustainability, | | | | to create change, you will ruffle a few feathers, and |
| business continuity, compliance management | | | | become a lightning rod for those that wish you to fail. |
| systems, biosafety, etc. Expand your skills in | | | | Prior to going on tour with the full program make |
| non-EH&S areas such as presentation skills, | | | | sure that you have built up an adequate supply of |
| negotiating, and leadership. Get an advanced degree. | | | | body guards in terms of management support. Build |
| Get a certification, being a CIH, CSP, etc. helps. If | | | | relationships with the key people in your organization |
| you're working in a technology driven industry, such | | | | that will support your cause. |
| as biotechnology or pharmaceuticals, you need at | | | | 6. Go on tour and have fun. You're not going to gain |
| least a master's degree to gain rock star status and | | | | Rock Star status by sitting behind the computer in |
| get that promotion to director or higher level. So right | | | | your private office all day. Despite the number of |
| now I can already hear the whining and the thoughts | | | | locations under your control, make it a point to visit |
| of "give me a promotion and pay me more money, | | | | everyone of them. Create raving fans and be |
| then I will do more work." Sorry, that's not how it | | | | approachable. |
| works. It didn't work that way ten years ago and it | | | | 7. Get to know and hang out with other Rock Stars. |
| doesn't work that way today. If you really want to | | | | Figure out what associations and groups that the |
| gain rock star status, you have to prove that you | | | | best in your industry participate in, and network like |
| can play with the best. | | | | crazy. While you don't want to mimic their style, you |
| 2. Recruit great band members. Yes you can try to | | | | can learn from them. |
| be a solo act, but you really should recruit others | | | | Achieving the elusive rock star status takes hard |
| that are also great at what they do. Make sure that | | | | work and dedication. You won't get to that status |
| they have great presentation skills. A rock star band | | | | overnight, but when it's a down economy there is no |
| would never think of hiring a band member without | | | | better time to start. Get out there! |
| hearing them play first - and neither should you. | | | | |