It's Not About Being Right...It's About Being Heard

In this Mentor Moments bonus episode of Safety on Purpose, we dive into one of the most overloaded skills in leadership and safety--listening. Too often, leaders focus on proving their point or being "right", but real influence comes from making people feel heard. We'll explore why listening builds trust, how it strengthens culture, and practical ways you can shift from correcting to connecting. 

This bite-sized episode is packed with wisdom for safety professionals and leaders who want to create impact beyond compliance. 

Hosted by: Joe Garcia, Safety Leader & Culture Advocate
New Episodes Every Other Tuesday
 Safety on Purpose

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Transcript

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Mentor Moments Episode 2

Episode Title: “It’s Not About Being Right — It’s About Being Heard”

HOST (Joe Garcia):
Welcome to another Mentor Moment — bite-sized wisdom for rising safety leaders, here on Safety on Purpose. I’m Joe Garcia, and today’s truth might surprise some of you:

In safety, success isn’t always about being right. It’s about being heard — and understood.

The Hard Truth

Let me start with a confession.

Early in my career, I thought if I knew the rules, quoted the regs, and pointed out the risks, people would automatically follow. I’d walk into a room, clipboard in hand, thinking I was the expert — and I was. But people didn’t always listen.

And that used to frustrate me.

Until a mentor pulled me aside and said:

“Joe, safety isn’t a battle of knowledge. It’s a matter of connection. If they don’t hear you — none of what you know matters.”

Let that sink in.

Safety Is a Conversation

You see, too many young safety pros make the mistake of leading with compliance instead of communication. They think authority = influence.

But here’s the reality:

The best safety leaders ask more than they tell.
 They listen more than they lecture.
 They connect before they correct.

You may be 100% right about a hazard, a shortcut, or a safety lapse — but if the person on the other end feels judged, ignored, or disrespected? They’re not hearing a word.

This job isn’t about being the smartest person in the room — it’s about being the most trusted.

Practical Tools

So how do you make sure you're being heard?

Here are 3 simple tools you can start using today:

1. Start with curiosity.
   Instead of “Why didn’t you lockout?”, try:
   “Hey, walk me through how you did that.”
   Curiosity invites conversation. Accusation shuts it down.
2. Mirror and validate.
   If someone says, “This process is way too slow,” repeat back:
   “So it sounds like the current system feels frustrating?”
   That alone builds a bridge.
3. Use “we” more than “you.”
   Shift from “You need to…” to “How can we make this safer together?”
   That subtle change creates partnership — not power struggles.

A Lesson Learned the Hard Way

Let me share a story.

There was a welder on site — been there 30 years, knew the place inside and out. I walked up to him one day because he wasn’t wearing his face shield for a quick tack weld. I jumped straight into lecture mode.

He cut me off and said, “Kid, I was doing this before you were born.”

Ouch.

I could have escalated — but I didn’t. I took a breath, apologized for the tone, and asked, “Would you help me understand how you’re managing the risk when you do that?”

That one question turned the entire conversation around. He started showing me how he’d adapted certain techniques, and it led to real change — not just compliance, but trust.

That moment taught me:

Humility opens more doors than authority ever will.

Mentor Moment Homework

So here’s your Mentor Moment homework this week:

Think of a time when someone didn’t listen to your safety advice. Ask yourself:

• Was I trying to be right?
• Or was I trying to connect?

Now rewrite how you would approach that moment today — with empathy, curiosity, and respect.

And then, try it for real. Next time you see an at-risk behavior — lead with a question, not a command.

Thanks for spending a few minutes with me today. If this helped you see safety leadership in a new light, share this episode with a fellow young pro.

Remember — being heard starts with how you show up. Be real. Be kind. Be curious.

This has been Mentor Moments, and I’m Joe Garcia. Stay safe, stay sharp, and most importantly — stay on purpose.

[Outro Music fades out]