Welcome to another episode of the Business Leaders of America podcast. In this episode, I sit down with world-renowned safety leadership expert Dr. Thomas Krause, a pioneer in the field of organizational safety, culture change, and decision making. With over four decades of experience advising leaders across industries, including NASA in the wake of the Columbia Space Shuttle tragedy, Tom shares eye-opening insights into how leadership decisions, not just worker behavior, often set the stage for safety breaches.

We explore how unsafe practices can quietly become the “new normal” in organizations, why upward communication is so difficult yet essential, and how improving safety culture can drive better business outcomes. Tom also unpacks some of the most exciting innovations happening right now through his work with Krause Bell Group, and offers advice for emerging leaders who want to make safety and culture central to their leadership strategy.

If you're looking to build a stronger, safer, and more performance-driven organization, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

Notable Awards and Recognitions

• Co-founder and Chairman of Krause Bell Group

• Founder and former Chairman of Behavioral Science Technology, Inc. (BST), conducting over 2,300 consulting projects in 60 countries

• Over 45 years of experience in organizational safety, leadership, and culture

• Led post-tragedy safety culture change initiative for NASA following the Columbia Space Shuttle disaster

• Authored six books and over 50 published articles on safety, leadership, and culture change

• Co-authored “Measurement as Performance Driver” with Peter Pronovost, published in the Journal of Patient Safety

• Articles published in Wall Street Journal, Forbes, USA TODAY, Chief Executive, Safety Science, and more

How to connect with Dr. Thomas Krause

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-krausekbg/

• https://krausebellgroup.com/

• https://www.linkedin.com/company/krause-bell-group/posts/?feedView=all

• https://www.amazon.com/If-Your-Culture-Could-Talk/dp/B0D9ZNYZND/

Show Notes

[1:32] Thomas shares what first sparked his interest in organizational safety and leadership, and how that early passion laid the foundation for his pioneering work in the field.

[3:53] A look into how unsafe practices can quietly become part of company culture, and what leaders should watch for to recognize when the “new normal” may actually be putting people at risk.

[7:04] Examining how leadership decisions, despite good intentions, can inadvertently lead to unsafe practices, with powerful lessons learned from consulting with NASA in the wake of the Columbia Space Shuttle tragedy.

[10:56] Why many companies hesitate to engage external experts for safety improvements and what holds them back from seeking transformative support before a crisis forces change.

[13:20] The barriers that make upward communication so challenging within organizations, and actionable steps leaders can take to create a culture where honest feedback flows freely.

[16:26] Impactful strategies leaders can use to actively engage their workforce, boosting safety outcomes while also driving overall business performance.

[22:24] The challenge of measuring cultural transformation and which key indicators truly reflect meaningful progress inside an organization.

[28:40] The new and innovative initiatives Krause Bell Group is leading that he's most excited about, advancing the future of safety culture through fresh strategies, tools, and approaches.

[34:10] How listeners can connect, learn more about Krause Bell Group, and get a copy of If Your Culture Could Talk

[34:38] A powerful piece of advice for emerging business leaders on how to prioritize safety and culture from day one and why it’s essential for long-term success.

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