One of the highlights of last October’s Safety Conference was the all-day Professional Development Course led by Scott Shumway of Emiment. Scott introduced many of us to practical leadership and communication strategies drawn from FOCUS Leadership and systems thinking. These approaches are great help for safety professionals to navigate competing priorities, organizational constraints, and the human side of change.
The session sparked great discussion, but we simply ran out of time before reaching the portion Scott was leading up to live, realistic scenarios showing how conversations between safety professionals and supervisors can unfold and how they can be improved.
Why These Conversations Matter
Every safety professional has experienced moments where the technical risk was clear but the conversation about it wasn’t. What often makes the difference isn’t just what you know, it’s how you communicate it. With Scott’s approach, you don’t have to choose sides instead, reframe the issue so participants can:
What to Expect in February
At our February meeting, Scott will return specifically to run through the interactive portion we missed in October. He will guide us through real-world dialogue scenarios that mirror the kinds of exchanges happening every day on our sites. This is a chance to see how small changes in language, structure, and approach can completely change the trajectory of a conversation.
This session will be practical and interactive, not just theoretical.
This Session Is for Everyone
Although this is a continuation of the October PDC, you do not need to have attended that session to benefit. The skills we’ll practice apply to anyone who:
Meeting Details
Date & Time: February 3rd — meeting starts at noon (come early for food and fellowship)
Location: Ethos Academy
Address: 4414 S Pacific Hwy, Phoenix, OR 97535
We look forward to seeing you for an engaging and highly practical discussion with Scott that will help you take what you already do well and communicate it even more effectively in challenging situations.
Hope to see you there,
Jeffrey Mook
The session sparked great discussion, but we simply ran out of time before reaching the portion Scott was leading up to live, realistic scenarios showing how conversations between safety professionals and supervisors can unfold and how they can be improved.
Why These Conversations Matter
Every safety professional has experienced moments where the technical risk was clear but the conversation about it wasn’t. What often makes the difference isn’t just what you know, it’s how you communicate it. With Scott’s approach, you don’t have to choose sides instead, reframe the issue so participants can:
- understand the underlying drivers behind safety vs. production tension,
- recognize how good intentions can unintentionally fuel conflict,
- learn practical tools to move conversations from resistance to cooperation, and
- build alignment that improves both safety outcomes and operational performance.
What to Expect in February
At our February meeting, Scott will return specifically to run through the interactive portion we missed in October. He will guide us through real-world dialogue scenarios that mirror the kinds of exchanges happening every day on our sites. This is a chance to see how small changes in language, structure, and approach can completely change the trajectory of a conversation.
This session will be practical and interactive, not just theoretical.
This Session Is for Everyone
Although this is a continuation of the October PDC, you do not need to have attended that session to benefit. The skills we’ll practice apply to anyone who:
- engages with field supervision
- leads teams or sits at the intersection of safety and operations
- wants to improve influence, clarity, or collaboration
- deals with competing goals, ambiguity, or resistance
Meeting Details
Date & Time: February 3rd — meeting starts at noon (come early for food and fellowship)
Location: Ethos Academy
Address: 4414 S Pacific Hwy, Phoenix, OR 97535
We look forward to seeing you for an engaging and highly practical discussion with Scott that will help you take what you already do well and communicate it even more effectively in challenging situations.
Hope to see you there,
Jeffrey Mook
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