Safety protocols are needed for more than just physical compliance. They are needed for emotional protection as well. The less safe one feels at work, either in his or her position with the company or even more importantly the boss, the greater the disin ­tegration of creative and intuitive thought. A bunker mentality emerges and once in that slippery pit it is very difficult to emerge.

Several colleagues of mine just left that type of environment. Work shuts down, people are frustrated and afraid. Productivity is low and fear is abundant. When emotional safety is limited in any work environment, productivity drops are quickly to follow. So what do we as executive leaders have to learn?

1. Open and honest dialogues trump agenda laden "framing" every time.

2. In times of crisis, the open door policy is even more critical as relationships with real people are at stake.

3. Clear reasonable expectations are like a lighthouse in the fog marking appropriate behavioral change and progress toward business goals.

Moving from risk2return is a people-initiative every time. How good are your people engagement skills?

All material © 2006 Drawing Board, LLC.