I’m a Saving Lives Officer Mindset

We are SLOs

On 23/10/2019 I published the video Become a SLO (Saving Lives Officer). In my mind, Food Safety Professionals shall change whatever they have on their business cards to SLO. Most of us believe that our job is to check if people are using air nets, if they are filling records, if they are properly washing their hands, etc. With this in mind, how can we wake in the morning with the energy and drive to face one more day? Those tasks must be done and thank you all for doing that everyday but it must be clear that these are only tools we use to achieve our highest purpose. We, Food Safety Professionals are in the business of Saving People’s Lives. We are SLOs.

Knowing why we do what we do is paramount to fulfill humans highest needs and in this SLO mindset we build professionals and teams able to do what they have to do just because it is the right thing to do… even when no one is looking.

The SLO Mindset Takes a Village

SInce then, I have matured this idea and it evolved to the need of everyone in the organizations being a SLO. This is a job for everyone, from top management to front line workers. To achieve this goal, I believe that we must follow 4 steps:

1- Clearly demonstrate that “Lack of Food Safety = Disease or Death”. We should emotionally impart this in every soul in the organization.

2- Explain that “What you do (and how you do) matters”. Don’t use the old jargon “everyone is important in the organization” that doesn’t motivate anyone. We should be clear and specific about how what each one does is central to assure food safety.

3- Guarantee “Psychological Safety”. This is a term coined by Amy Edmondson and can be defined as “a belief that one will not be punished or humiliated for speaking up with ideas, questions, concerns or mistakes”.

4- Use a “Communication” approach and tactics adapted to each person. We all are different and what “makes one person move” depends on the kind of needs they are looking to fulfill. Communication should be tailored to be more effective.

Looking above, you will notice that points 1 and 3 are aspects of this framework where you can reach more people at one time. You can convey the message in point 1 to a group of people and you can implement policies to guarantee Psychological Safety at corporate level. On the other hand, point 2 and 4 are very specific and almost something that should be accomplished with a one-to-one approach.

SLO Mindset First, then the tools. What you should know right away is that there is no magic pill that can change the Culture you already have to the positive Food Safety Culture you would like to have in a day. Prepare for a journey. The good thing is that you are not alone and hopefully you join a movement of Food Safety Professionals who proudly say “I’m a SLO”. Are you in?